 "Photo: File photo")
For the week of March 26 through March 30, The Daily Toreador will give readers the chance to pick the greatest athlete in Texas Tech sports history. Each day The DT sports desk will profile two athletes from the list of 14 finalists. To vote for your favorite athlete log on to www.dailytoreador.com/apoll.
The Oklahoma City native was voted to The Sporting News' Freshman All-America team, and he received All-American honors in 2002 and 2003.
He holds the school record for the most career all-purpose yards and receiving yards with 5,370 and 3,069 yards, respectively. He ranks second in Texas Tech school history with 259 receptions. Welker's 21 career-receiving touchdowns are tied for third all-time in school history. He also rushed the ball 79 times for 456 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Welker holds a piece of the NCAA record books for most career punt return touchdowns with eight. He also holds the NCAA records for most punt returns in a season with 57 in the 2002 season and most career return yards with 1,761.
His 1,099 receiving yards in his senior season ranks fifth most all-time in school history. Welker's 97 receptions in 2003 rank second all-time in school history, behind Taurean Henderson (98). He holds the team record for most receptions in a single game with 14.
In the professional ranks, Welker is known for his willingness to do anything to help the team win. In 2004, he became the second player in NFL history to return a punt and a kick, kick a field goal and an extra point, and record a tackle in the same game.
Once considered too small to play Division I football, Thomas accepted a scholarship to Texas Tech, where he went on to become a two-time All-American middle linebacker. He was named the consensus Southwest Conference Defensive Player of the Year in his junior and senior campaigns.
Thomas amassed 390 tackles throughout his career, including a career-high 131 tackles and a school-record 20 tackles against Missouri in his senior season
Thomas played in every game his freshman season, recording 26 tackles. He then started every game from his sophomore season through his senior season.
What fans remember most about Thomas' career at Tech is his game-winning interception return for a touchdown that gave the Red Raiders a 14-7 win over rival Texas A&M in 1995. This still is considered one of the more memorable plays in Tech football history. He also recorded 13 tackles and recovered a fumble in the game.
Following his career at Tech, Thomas again was considered too small to play at the next level. The Miami Dolphins took a chance with him in the 5th round of the 1996 NFL draft, making him the 194th overall pick. Thomas has become a consistent sight at the Pro Bowl, making the team seven times in the last nine years.
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