Sapp-Counseled LaJohntay Wester Credits “The Hood”
February 28th, 2025
LaJohntay Wester wants to come home.
The Bucs sure could use an electric returner and Palmetto High star LaJohntay Wester could be that guy.
Wester turns 23 next month and first played for Florida Atlantic before transferring to Colorado where Bucs legend Warren Sapp, a Colorado assistant coach, has been mentoring him, Wester told media at the NFL Scouting Combine today.
JoeBucsFan.com draft guru Sean Sullivan followed up with a question to Wester about his fearless style. Wester is known for playing without regard for his small size, 5-9, 175 pounds.
Wester said he’s fearless on the field because “I grew up in the hood” and he spent his youth playing against bigger people. He mentioned the “hood” a couple of times and said it shaped his play.
Sullivan says Wester definitely is third-day draft pick (fourth or fifth round?), and Joe knows the Bucs sure could use a shot in the arm at punt returner.
February 28th, 2025 at 10:36 am
I don’t see us going for a WR later in the draft. We still have a couple of developmental young receivers with upside in Palmer and Jarrett… Unless you think you’re getting a late round steal, I don’t see it.
If the Bucs are looking for WRs, it’s going to be early, somebody who can inherit 1a or 1b from Evans and Godwin eventually.
Day 2 should be devoted to defensive depth or OLine depth, especially if we lose Bredeson or Skule to free agency.
February 28th, 2025 at 10:47 am
Man I want Trey Palmer to pan out so bad, and right now I just don’t really understand where all of the buzz about taking receiver is coming from.
Only if Godwin leaves should there be a conversation about drafting receiver, and even then, let some of the young bucs run around a little.
February 28th, 2025 at 11:15 am
5’9″? lol no. We have actual needs and this shorty isn’t gonna help fill any.
February 28th, 2025 at 11:31 am
Lol, punt returner. That dude will be obliterated.
February 28th, 2025 at 11:38 am
Have any of you actually watched this kid ?
His size is irrelevant , nobody gets hit anymore. He’s extremely shifty , great returner and fearless. Remember when players actually got HIT HARD.
Billy White shoes , Joshua Cribbs , they survived when hitting was serious.
Definitely should take a look at Wester.
February 28th, 2025 at 11:39 am
Hard pass.
Too small.
Too hood.
February 28th, 2025 at 11:42 am
What a waste of a pick.
February 28th, 2025 at 11:45 am
Live by the hood due by the hood. Dude probably has 10 yes men and 30 “family” members. And once the money is gone so will everyone else.
February 28th, 2025 at 11:56 am
Captain Obvious Here …
HOF DT Warren Sapp mentored a Punt Returner?
I’m not drafting a punt returner mentored by a defensive lineman. The Hood should have sought some advice from … IDK … A HOF punt returner, like Deon Sanders.
February 28th, 2025 at 12:11 pm
Is a good thing Licht is making that decision. In Licht We Trust!
February 28th, 2025 at 1:29 pm
Need us a return threat.
February 28th, 2025 at 1:56 pm
As long as he has talent first and second, good character, then worth a look.
Take the man out the hood, but not the hood out the man.
February 28th, 2025 at 3:10 pm
Late Day3 pick at best.
Would hope the FO only considers someone pegged for a PR/KR specialist role in the 7th round or as a UDFA. Bottom shelf coin for minimal PT roster role…& really don’t see a sure fire WR room roster spot to dedicate to Wester at this point.
Tucker is a solid KR guy & Trey Palmer as PR fits his skillset quite well.
Both are highly likely to be on the 53 man roster & both returner roles get filled by players that will command rotational PT already.
February 28th, 2025 at 3:18 pm
I doubt that Sapp was sharing the secrets of his glory as a return man.
I wonder if the mentoring was along the lines of how to make the most of a God given opportunity and how not to destroy yourself like Aaron Hernandez?
And, maybe a bit about finding the right woman for him, treating her well, working out their challenges without the help of law enforcement officers, and not using the intimate services of professionals.
Or, at least how not to get busted while you are doingso.
We all make mistakes; we should learn from them, and sharing what we have learned with someone we mentor can be a good thing if we learned the right lessons and took them to heart in a life improving way.
February 28th, 2025 at 3:42 pm
Get him late…great, size don’t matter, ask your wife. Turpin, the dallas punt kick returner is 5’9″ 160, he changes the game and flips the game. The kickoff rules are constantly changing and the nfl wants to make it more exciting. If he helps the help and at a value…let’s go
February 28th, 2025 at 5:17 pm
I’m lajohntay uncle yes Sapp has done an amazing job with my nephew. Blessings
February 28th, 2025 at 5:37 pm
Ok, the hood shaped his play. As long as it didnt shape his attitude.
February 28th, 2025 at 8:08 pm
So the Buc’s need a shot in the arm and he comes from the hood, interesting analogy
February 28th, 2025 at 8:09 pm
So the Buc’s need a shot in the arm and he comes from the hood, interesting analogy.
February 28th, 2025 at 11:17 pm
I’ll probably die before the Bucs ever have an actual threat at PR / KR.
Tucker looked decent last year a few times. Palmer looks like the lights are too bright for him, but maybe year 3 will be the year it finally clicks for him.
March 1st, 2025 at 12:22 am
Dexter Jackson from App State…..Jalen Dardon from North Texas…..
We have smurfs already, we don’t need another. Everyone is tough coming out of college until they get hit twice as hard as they ever have been before, and the hits keep getting harder after that.
March 1st, 2025 at 12:35 am
Respect to him.
But think about it.
Belicheck was a genius putting Blount as a kick returner.
Why?
Because he can break tackles.
The punt returner needs to break 1 tackle every time, by a gunner, who’s normally a CB.
We need a punt returner who can break the first tackle.
Palmer is too skinny. He’s scared too.
We definitely need a new punt returner
March 1st, 2025 at 11:00 pm
Just don’t do anything Sapp did off the field and you should be fine kid. Street wise is one thing, street thug is another.
Go Bucs!
March 3rd, 2025 at 5:31 pm
I’ll say this he’s better than all our upcoming wide receivers right now he will show the NFL. Far as the ignorant hood comments this young man went viral for praying and encouraging his brother before. He a great man with great morals with a great support system no yes men around him. He comes from two parent home.