LaJohntay Wester walked back onto Colorado’s practice field this week with a different résumé.
After completing his rookie season with the Baltimore Ravens, the former Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver is training again in Boulder as he prepares for Year 2 in the NFL.
Photos shared by a CU alum reporter confirmed Wester was not simply visiting campus. He was practicing. For Deion Sanders and the Colorado program, that matters. For Wester, it may matter even more.
He enters the 2026 offseason after appearing in 17 games for Baltimore in 2025. The sixth-round pick finished with 246 kick return yards and 198 punt return yards, while logging 58 offensive snaps. His primary role came on special teams, where rookies often earn their first opportunities.
The Ravens closed the season at 8-9, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2021, according to official NFL standings. It was a challenging year for the franchise and a learning curve for a young return specialist adjusting to the pace of the league.
A Boulder bond that still runs deep
Wester’s connection to Colorado goes beyond one season. In 2024, after transferring from Florida Atlantic, he posted 931 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns, helping the Buffaloes secure nine wins.
During that stretch, Sanders publicly backed him, calling him “a pro” before he ever played an NFL snap.
Before arriving in Boulder, Wester had already built a strong résumé at FAU. Across 45 collegiate games, he totaled 2,703 receiving yards and earned AAC Special Teams Player of the Year honors. That versatility helped him become a sixth-round selection in the 2025 NFL Draft.
The relationship with Coach Prime remains central to Wester’s development. Even after just one season together, the connection proved strong enough to shape his NFL preparation.
Rookie lessons in Baltimore
The transition to the NFL tested Wester in predictable ways. Special teams work demands precision, and mistakes can shift momentum quickly. A muffed punt against Cleveland became one of those defining rookie moments.
Still, he stayed active all season. Appearing in all 17 regular-season games as a late-round pick is not insignificant. League analysts frequently note that availability and special teams value are key survival tools for players drafted outside the early rounds.
“Oh my god. LaJohntay is a pro, man. He’s a Florida boy, and he comes with that dog mentality, that swagger in him…
Wester has often referenced being overlooked throughout his career. That mindset shaped his college success and now carries into Baltimore’s offseason program.
Year 2 is often where development becomes visible.
How Wester’s return matters
Colorado continues positioning itself as a pipeline for NFL talent under Deion Sanders. Wester’s presence at practice reinforces that bridge between Boulder and the league.
For younger Buffaloes players, working alongside someone who just completed an NFL rookie season offers perspective on preparation and expectations.
For Wester, returning to familiar surroundings provides structure ahead of what could be a defining second season. Special teams contributors must prove reliability while pushing for expanded offensive roles.
Training camp with the Baltimore Ravens will determine how his role evolves in 2026. The foundation, however, is being built again in Boulder.
Sources: Official Baltimore Ravens 2025 statistics, NFL regular-season standings, University of Colorado 2024 team records, and publicly reported statements from Deion Sanders.
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