LaJohntay Wester labeled 'a pro' by Deion Sanders

LaJohntay Wester is one of the 39 portal additions for Colorado from this offseason. He sets up to potentially be one of the more impactful, if not the most impactful one, too based on how Deion Sanders and the Buffaloes are already viewing him.

Sanders spoke about Wester during a spring press conference last month. He said the fifth-year, transfer wideout has shown him what he needs to see to this point in order to think of and view him as a player that’s of the caliber of a professional.

“Oh my god. LaJohntay is a pro, man,” said Sanders.

“He’s a Florida boy and he comes with that dog mentality, that swagger in him,” Sanders said.

Wester’s approach has been great for himself as he has joined the offense in Boulder. It has also been welcome for the rest of the unit, specifically the other receivers. According to Sanders, it’s challenging a few of them to be better and meet him at the level he has been playing at.

“He’s making Jimmy (Horn Jr.) go get it,” noted Sanders. “Jimmy already was a go-getter but now Jimmy is like, ‘Aight, aight. Shoot, you see what he doing over there?'”

“Like, it’s very competitive and I like it,” Sanders said.

Wester transferred to Colorado after four years at Florida Atlantic and appeared in 45 games for the Owls. In that time, he caught 252 passes for just over 2,700 yards, good for over 60 per game and over 10 per catch, and 21 touchdowns. With those stats, he led the team in receiving in each of the past three years.

Wester exploded during his final year in Boca Raton with 108 receptions for 1,168 and eight scores. Those were once again team-highs for FAU. The catches were also second-most in the nation last fall to only Virginia’s Malik Washington.

After the season, Wester entered his name into the transfer portal in late December. He then landed at Colorado after committing to Coach Prime just over a week later after his entry.

With his commitment, Wester became one of the highest-rated transfers for the Buffaloes in either portal window. He ranks as the No. 167 overall player and the No. 35 WR per On3’s 2024 Transfer Portal Top Players. That rates behind only five players they picked up with three edge rushers in Arizona State’s B.J. Green II at No. 65, Pittsburgh’s Dayon Hayes at No. 94, and LSU’s Quency Wiggins at No. 122 along with a pair of interior offensive linemen in Houston’s Tyler Johnson at No. 104 and UTEP’s Justin Mayers at No. 161.

Those five plus Wester make up the best commitments for the No. 1 portal class in the country per On3’s 2024 Team Transfer Portal Rankings.

Colorado already has their fair share of names with several that can take the shine with their play and more. However, Wester is becoming one we should know with what he has already proven to be to Sanders and the Buffs through the spring.