Palmetto High grad LaJohntay Wester emerges as Florida Atlantic's all-time leading receiver

BOCA RATON − LaJohntay Wester arrived in Boca Raton as a blueshirt recruit.

The blueshirt rule allows schools to place unrecruited athletes on scholarship once they arrive on campus. But as long as they do not play that first year, they don't count against the scholarship total until the following year.

Florida Atlantic University blueshirting Wester, a former Palmetto High standout, did not deter him.

“I told my dad (John) when I first got here, even though I was a blueshirt offer, that before I leave here that when people look back 10, 20 years from now, they will remember LaJohntay Wester because either I break a record or my performance and character,” Wester said.

With his first catch during the first week of the 2023 season, Wester became the Owls' all-time leading receiver with his 163rd catch.

“It is a great personal accomplishment, but you should know me by now, I like to win,” Wester said. “But not taking away from that, it is a big accomplishment for me and I am very proud of myself.”

Wester went on to grab 11 more passes against Clemson in the opener and in FAU’s first three games, the redshirt junior has 30 catches for 264 yards and a touchdown.

During his four-year career with the Owls, Wester has 174 catches for 1,799 yards and 14 scores. He has become a favorite target of new FAU quarterback Daniel Richardson.

“He just has a different motor,” Richardson said of Wester. “He comes to the sideline and says ‘I’m going to be open, trust me.’ It is a mindset thing. It’s rare that you find too many players like that. That is one player that has the NFL mindset and you will definitely be seeing him on Sundays.”

Wester, who has been named to the preseason watch list for the 2023 Paul Hornung Award presented by Texas Roadhouse as announced by The Louisville Sports Commission, feels a connection with Richardson already.

“It definitely is a true test for the team, but D-Rich is ready,” Wester said. “We had a whole spring with him, so we are real confident in what he has to bring to the table.”

Wester, who plays on the same team with brothers John Jr. and Jaylen, also has returned kicks (2 for 30 yards) and punts (2 for 55 yards) for the Owls.

"He is wired the right way,” Florida Atlantic offensive coordinator Charley Frye said of Wester. “He only goes one speed and tempo every day at practice. It’s non-stop. He takes it from the practice field to the game. The guys at the next level, that is how they are wired. They don't have an off switch. They run to win all day. I call them the spark plug. He put some really good film out there against a very good defense. I have a lot of respect for him and just how he is wired is awesome.”

It is nothing new to Wester.

As a senior at Palmetto, he caught 35 passes for 758 yards and eight touchdowns and rushed 17 times for 135 yards and a score.

“That is just how I was raised playing from Little League all the way to high school,” he said. “It is just one speed: Go 100%.”

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: LaJohntay Wester now Florida Atlantic's all-time leading receiver