Wide Receiver
No. 85
California
"The Jets' Wesley Walker caught eight touchdown passes in 1978. Not so amazing, unless you consider his shortest touchdown catch was 33 yards. Overall, his average touchdown reception was 52 yards. Impressed yet? Now consider that of the AFC's top ten receivers, excluding Walker, only four caught at least one pass of 52 or more yards all year. And there were three starting AFC quarterbacks who didn't complete a pass of 52 yards or more all season: Ken Stabler, Mike Livingston and Craig Morton.
Walker, after being named the Jets' 1978 MVP: 'I can't ask for anything more. I almost feel like crying. It's unbelievable what's happened to me, a real turnabout from last year when I was dropping the ball, but I never doubted my abilities and I'm thankful for the confidence of the coaches.' "
-from Notes, Quotes & Comments, Football Digest, April 1979
"The Seattle Slew of pass catchers. Walker was All-Pro last year after a superb season- 48 catches for a league high 1,169 yards and an amazing 24.4 per catch average- and eight touchdown catches, too. And he's legally blind in one eye!
In two years in the NFL, Walker has given defensive backs, especially those in the AFC East, nervous disorders. He broke in as a rookie starter and caught an 87-yard touchdown bomb against Oakland. He 'fell off' to just a 77-yard best in '78.
Born May 26, 1955, in San Bernadino, California, Walker lettered in both football and track at California where he set an NCAA career record for average yards per catch (25.7). He can outrun them on any level."
-Dave Newhouse, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football (1979 Edition)
"Wesley's speed is equal to that of anyone in the NFL. He has quick moves, good football intelligence and great desire to excel.
The Jets' leading receiver in 1978, he led the entire NFL with 1,169 yards and played in the Pro Bowl. He was an outstanding sprinter at California."
-1979 Topps No. 141
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