Wes Welker: New England Patriots' Comeback Kid

New England Patriots' wide receiver Wes Welker has beaten the odds before.

Welker was deemed too small to play major college football, but eventually, Texas Tech came calling.

The 5'9" speedster went on to gain nearly 3,500 yards on offense, while scoring 23 touchdowns, but it was on special teams that the Oklahoma native made his mark.

Welker equaled the NCAA record for career punt returns for touchdowns with eight as he claimed the award for best special teams player in the country in 2003.

Despite being a very productive college player, Welker was not invited to the NFL Scouting Combine, and he went undrafted in the 2004 NFL Draft.

The San Diego Chargers were the next team to take a chance on the player who was thought too small to succeed, signing him as an undrafted free agent.

Welker made the Chargers roster to start the season, but he was cut after the team's first game.

The Miami Dolphins scooped him up and added a key weapon to their special teams.

Welker once again made his name on special teams as he became the second player in NFL history to return a punt and a kickoff, kick a field goal and an extra point, and record a tackle all in the same game. Welker pulled this impressive feat off against his future Patriots teammates in only the third game of his career.

Welker finally got a shot to play receiver for the Dolphins during the 2005 season, catching 29 balls for 434 yards and no touchdowns.

Entering the 2006 season Welker was rumored to be on the chopping block again, but he turned out to be the best option on an otherwise woeful Dolphins offense.

Welker finished the season as the team's leader in receptions with 67 while tallying 687 yards and a touchdown.

Welker's best game of the season once again came against the Pats as he caught a career-high nine catches for 77 yards.

The former Red Raider became a restricted free agent before the 2007 season and there was one team who knew what Welker was capable of becoming, the New England Patriots.

The Patriots took a gamble, trading their second and seventh round draft picks for the versatile receiver and return man.

For the first time in his career, Welker was truly wanted.

Welker instantly became Patriots' quarterback Tom Brady's go-to guy that season, as he led the team with 112 receptions.

Welker showed a great ability to work the middle of the field, getting open often and catching nearly everything that came his way. He was voted to his first Pro Bowl following the 2008 season in which he caught 111 passes for 1,165 yards and three touchdowns.

Not only was Welker's career flourishing but he also became a key component in helping another overlooked player get a shot that season.

Tom Brady was injured in the opening game of the 2008 season so career backup Matt Cassel was finally given the shot he had been waiting for.

Cassel was able to count on Welker more than any receiver in his short time in New England, as Welker led the team in targets and receptions.

Welker entered the 2009 season as one of the league's leading receivers and he failed to disappoint once again, finishing the year with an NFL-leading 123 receptions.

While Welker was one of the top receivers in the league last year, not all of the news was good for the Patriots' main target.

Welker was injured in the Patriots' final regular season game, tearing the MCL and ACL in his left knee.

The injury was a devastating blow to a receiver such as Welker who relies so heavily on his ability to plant and cut quickly, and the recovery time of such an injury can be from six months to a year.

Welker rehabbed all offseason, determined to be the comeback kid yet again, and that is exactly what he did as he started the Pats' first game of the season last Sunday against the Bengals.

Once again, Welker exceeded all expectations, not just recovering in time to play, but performing at a very high level when he was on the field.

Welker was Brady's target yet again, leading the team to a 38-24 victory while catching eight passes for 64 yards and two touchdowns.

Just when Welker was thought to be down and out again, he rose to the occasion once more, further proving that a big heart beats a big frame every time.