Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Freshman receiver Wester expected to make early impact
FAU brought in multiple transfers to make up for the pass-catching production it lost from last season.
But when the Owls play their first game of the season against Georgia Southern on Sept. 19, one of the youngest receivers on the roster may stand out the most.
While most freshman either redshirt or spend their first season trying to climb up the depth chart, Lajohntay Wester is poised to make an impact on the Owls during his first season.
“Lajohntay, he’s a different breed. That kid can play,” said sophomore wide receiver Yanez Rogers, a Pompano Beach native who transferred to FAU from Cincinnati. “Since I’ve been in college and being at two programs, he’s probably one of the best incoming freshmen I’ve seen with my eyes. That kid’s built different.”
The Palmetto native has caught the attention of his teammates and coaches during FAU’s month of fall camp. In the team’s first scrimmage on Aug. 29, Wester caught a 75-yard touchdown pass from redshirt junior quarterback Nick Tronti, according to FAU’s release.
Drew Mehringer, FAU co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, said Wester loves to take on challenges — telling reporters that Wester asked the team’s head strength and conditioning Joey Guarascio to help him add more weight to his 5-foot-11, 170-pound frame.
“He’s a quiet kid who wants to improve,” Mehringer said. “He’s got the biggest chip on his shoulder just to prove he can be out there. He’s earned the respect of his teammates not only as a freshman but as a legitimate football player.”
The respect Wester’s teammates have for him comes from them recognizing how refined his skillset is at such a young age.
“You know how it is — a kid will have speed, but he can’t catch,” Rogers said. “Or he can catch, but he can’t run routes. He’s a complete [player]. He can catch, run routes and make catches most freshman won’t make. He’s a gamer.”
Wester was a dual-threat quarterback and wide receiver in high school, catching 35 passes for 758 yards and eight touchdowns during his senior season. He also contributed as a runner and in the return game, recording seven return scores (four kick returns and three punt returns) while running for 11.3 yards per rush.
FAU coach Willie Taggart said after the team’s second scrimmage that Wester could replace Deangelo Antoine as the team’s primary kick and punt returner, since Antoine left the team after using up all of his eligibility.
The Owls will need as much help at receiver as Wester can give them. Five of FAU’s top receivers from last year won’t play in 2020. Antoine (used up eligibility), Harrison Bryant (NFL), Tavaris Harrison (graduation) and John Raine (transfer to Northwestern) are no longer with the team.
During an appearance on Fox Sports 640-AM earlier in the week, Taggart said redshirt senior wide receiver John Mitchell will miss the 2020 season due to a knee injury, opening up opportunities for Wester and multiple receivers on the roster.
“To be a freshman that just got here when we started camp, very very proud of the young man,” Taggart said. “He’s learning on the ropes. He didn’t get the Zoom meetings and things that some of our other players had this spring. He had to start from scratch and he stepped in day one and hadn’t looked back. It’s pretty cool to be a freshman and come in and after day three, an entire football team knows your name.
Taggart added that all Wester has to do to see consistent playing time is to continue to practice the way he has been.
“All the young fella has done is make plays out there from day one,” Taggart said. “He’s a dog. He’s a little dog that you don’t have to teach how to bite — he’s already biting. You don’t have to teach him how to do it. That young man is going to do some really great things for us.”