Welker makes himself useful

New England receiver Wes Welker is the Swiss Army Knife of NFL players: sleek, compact and outfitted for 101 uses.

The Patriots recognized his versatility long before they traded for him last spring, when they gave up more to acquire Welker -- generously listed at 5 feet 9 -- than they did for Randy Moss.

The Patriots, remember, are the team that once turned a receiver into a part-time cornerback, a linebacker into a part-time tight end, and a defensive tackle into a part-time fullback.

So how could they ignore Welker’s do-it-all performance in a 2004 game against them, back when he was a no-name Miami special teamer? When Dolphins kicker Olindo Mare was injured during warmups, Welker stepped in and became the first player in NFL history to -- in one game -- return a punt and a kickoff, kick a field goal and extra point, and kick off.

“I didn’t really think it was that big a deal until after the game and everybody started asking me about it,” Welker said with a shrug Thursday before heading out to Patriots practice. “It’s something I’ve been doing my whole life.”

Welker might never line up for another kick, but that was just another surprising chapter in his unlikely career. Taking people off guard is his specialty.

He did it at Texas Tech when he got the last available scholarship, then went on to break several school and NCAA records. He did it in the NFL, when he wasn’t drafted -- or even invited to the scouting combine -- yet three years later led the Dolphins in receptions.

And even now he’s surprising people for the undefeated Patriots. He has 47 receptions -- third most in the league -- with 20 in the last two weeks. He doesn’t have the blistering speed of fellow New England receivers Moss and Donte Stallworth, and, at 185 pounds, he’s the lightest player on the team.

But Welker, who typically lines up in the slot and already has a career-high five touchdown catches, has emerged as a not-so-secret weapon for one of the league’s two unbeaten teams.

Either Welker is an ideal fit for New England’s offensive system, or he’s someone most every NFL scout simply missed because he didn’t have the so-called measurables, such as an eye-popping time in the 40-yard dash or a stratospheric vertical leap.

Washington Coach Joe Gibbs, whose team plays at New England on Sunday, called Welker “one of those great stories that amaze me.”

“This is an example,” Gibbs said, “of somebody that everybody looked at and said ‘no,’ or, ‘This guy’s not going to be a top-flight whatever.’ ”

It seems the only person who never doubted Welker -- aside from his friends and family -- was Welker.

Texas Tech Coach Mike Leach likes to tell the story of Welker, a thick-legged onetime soccer standout from Oklahoma City, strutting around before his first college practice. He was surrounded by fellow freshmen who were tall and sculpted with an unsure look in their eyes. They worried about whether they were cut out for Red Raiders football. Not so for Welker, who, depending on the situation at Oklahoma high school powerhouse Heritage Hall, played running back, receiver, safety, kicker and returner.

“Wes was this little, short guy who had his chest puffed out like the chicken hawk on that old Foghorn Leghorn cartoon,” Leach said. “And by the third game, he was one of our starting receivers.”

Over the next four seasons, Welker set school records with 259 receptions for 3,069 yards, and NCAA marks with 1,761 yards in punt returns and eight punt returns for touchdowns.

His college teammates nicknamed him “The Natural” and marveled at Welker’s toughness. Because of a nasty case of turf toe, he spent nearly every waking hour wearing a protective plastic boot -- except when he was practicing or playing in a game.

NFL scouts weren’t overly impressed. After he was ignored in the draft, Welker signed a free-agent deal with San Diego. The Chargers cut him after the first week of the 2004 season.

Tampa Bay offered him a spot on its practice squad, and Welker was ready to join the Buccaneers. But Miami personnel men Rick Spielman and George Paton wanted Welker, too, and countered by promising him a spot on their 53-man roster. They sealed the deal by having linebacker Zach Thomas, a Texas Tech alum, call Welker and urge him to sign.

He spent the better part of three seasons with the team, yet, even after his breakout season last fall, didn’t win over everyone in the organization. When he became a restricted free agent in the spring, the Dolphins made a modest effort to keep him, offering him a one-year deal worth $1.35 million. The Patriots traded their 2007 second- and seventh-round picks for him.

“Any time you feel wanted it definitely gives you a confidence,” Welker said. “You know this team wants you here, you’re surrounded by great players and great coaches, and it kind of gives you a different outlook.”

So, for a guy who can handle a slew of different jobs on the football field, there’s one clear message:

He’s wanted. At last.

sam.farmer@latimes.com

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Through seven games, Wes Welker has a career-high five touchdown receptions. That’s only three fewer than the average season total for the other 31 NFL teams. Across the board, the New England Patriots are dominating in several offensive categories:

*--* Category New England Other teams’ avg. Points 279 133.3 First-quarter points 72 23.7 Offensive touchdowns 32 12.8 Touchdown passes 27 8.1 Yards passing per game 299.4 213.0 Passer rating 135.0 81.5 *--*

Source: STATS LLC