The little wide receiver that could

After a couple of controversial Hump Day Hotties, we’ve gone with a more traditional pick today: NFL wide receiver Wesley Welker. Today’s hottie is not only, well, a hottie, but also a lesson in tenacity and perseverance.

Welker was a promising high-school athlete and was even named the Oklahoma Player of the Year as a senior. He thought the universities would come knocking on his door, but at just 5’9” he was on the small side. Turned out not many were willing to take a chance on him and give him a scholarship. In fact, Texas Tech was the only school to extend an offer, and then only after another player backed out.

Despite a great college career, Welker’s size came back to haunt him once again and he remained undrafted after graduation (he has a degree in Management). He ended up signing with the San Diego Chargers, but was cut from the team during the first week of his first season. He was then picked up by the Miami Dolphins, where he played for three seasons – sometimes enduring rumors that he would be released from the team.

In 2007 he was traded to the New England Patriots, and that’s when his career really took off. Since joining the Patriots Welker has been selected for the Pro Bowl – the NFL’s all-star game – every single year. The voting ended for this year’s Pro Bowl (taking place in Hawaii on January 30) on Monday and the selected players will be announced on live television on December 28th, so we’ll soon see if Welker has made it four in a row. Also, his team currently has 12 wins and just 2 loses with only 2 more games to play, so they are well-positioned heading into the playoffs.

So next time you’re feeling under appreciated at work or like you just can’t get a break, think of this cutie and his struggles to make it big. Or you can just think about him whenever, cause that’s fun too.