Ain’t nothing like chasing your dreams, grinding for years, and finally stepping into the spotlight — only to look around and realize the person you wanted to see it most ain’t there. Ain’t gonna lie, stuff like that eats you upside down. That’s the type of moment that makes a man stop, take a breath, and feel the weight of it all, no matter how locked in he is. And for one Colorado Buffs prodigy, that moment came at the Combine, after his exploits turned heads.

On March 1st, Colorado Buffaloes’ wideout prodigy, LaJohntay Wester took to Instagram, posting a first-person POV of himself resting at Lucas Oil Stadium. The caption? A raw, emotional shout-out to his late grandmother: “LLGma wish you could see how far I made it💯❤.” The post hit hard. Look, it wasn’t just about the Combine, the 40-yard dash, or draft stock — it was about the journey, the sacrifices, and the people who believed in him from day one. Ain’t no love stronger than grandma’s love.

Let’s talk about his Combine performance. Coming off a standout year at Colorado, Wester got the invite to the Combine after cooking DBs at the East-West Shrine Bowl. And when it was time to show out in Indy, he didn’t disappoint or exceed the expectation. Rocking #WO 46 and lacing up some fire red cleats, Wester put down a 4.46-second 40-yard dash with a 1.53-second 10-yard split — showing that burst off the line is no joke. His 32-inch vertical and 10’1” broad jump might not scream freak athlete, but let’s be real: Wester’s game ain’t about raw numbers, it’s about getting open and making plays. His route-running, his playmaking — things that don’t show up in a spreadsheet but show up on game day.

The official Combine metrics had him ranked 42nd among WRs overall, with a 66 production score (30th among WRs) and a 68 athleticism score (33rd among WRs). Not flashy, but anyone who’s watched his film knows — those numbers don’t tell the full story. Teams that do their homework will see the hands, the separation, and the footwork that makes DBs look silly. Some scouts might sleep on him, but the right team? They’ll wake up real quick.

The WR class at this year’s Combine turned Indy into a full-blown track meet. Matthew Golden (Texas) stole the show, running a 4.29 in the 40-yard dash — straight-up cheetah speed. Dont’e Thornton Jr. (Tennessee) wasn’t far behind, hitting 4.30, while Chimere Dike (Florida) posted a 4.34, showing off that elite acceleration. Jaylin Lane (Virginia Tech) clocked in at 4.34, and KeAndre Lambert-Smith (Auburn) rounded out the elite burners at 4.37.

Wester’s 4.46 put him 24th among WRs, not exactly headline-stealing, but again — his game ain’t about just running in a straight line. If it was all about speed, track stars would be All-Pro wideouts. Wester’s 2024 season at Colorado proved he’s got way more than just wheels. Speaking of speed, Wester’s Buffs teammate, Jimmy Horn Jr., ran an identical 4.46, barely edging him out. The word on the street; Jimmy ain’t satisfied. Look, the Combine ain’t everything, Zach Wilson literally fooled every analyst in the country with his Combine and Pro Day.

After Wester transferred from FAU, he wasted no time making himself Shedeur Sanders’ top target (outside of Heisman-winner Travis Hunter, of course). The man was un-guardable. In 13 games, Wester hauled in 74 catches for 931 yards and 10 touchdowns, averaging 12.6 yards per reception. At home? Even more lethal — racking up 492 yards and 5 TDs in just six games, averaging 82 yards per game in Boulder. Bottomline: When Colorado needed wins, Wester delivered. In CU’s nine victories, he put up 757 yards and 7 TDs, proving he wasn’t just padding stats — he was a difference-maker. And let’s keep it real: if it wasn’t for Travis Hunter, Wester probably would have dropped a 1,500-yard, 15-TD season on folks’ heads.

LaJohntay Wester backs and swears Shedeur Sanders is ‘Safest pick in the draft’

Shedeur Sanders’ name stays in conversations, and not just because of his famous last name. When he pulled up to the Combine, he wasn’t throwing, just talking — but what he said mattered. And Wester? He had his QB’s back 100%. “He really turned the whole program from 0-11 to 4-8 to 9-4. You don’t really see that in the Big 12 Conference,” Wester told The Plain Dealer Cleveland. “He just overcame every type of adversity. He’s a guy who’s going to change the organization. To me, he’s the safest pick.”

The ‘safest pick’ claim? That’s a bold take, especially with the Shedeur Sanders-Cam Ward rivalry heating up. Ward might have the edge on athleticism, but Wester swears by Sanders’ leadership and football IQ. And in a league where mental toughness is just as crucial as physical skills, that kind of backing matters. Wester ain’t done hyping up his QB. “His IQ level is insane. He’s an easy quarterback to play for. I mean, he tells you what to do and you just do it. I played with multiple quarterbacks throughout my five years of college, and he was probably the best quarterback I ever played for.”

That’s high praise. NFL teams are already looking at Sanders as a polarizing prospect — some love him, some doubt him. Colorado’s hype machine has done its job. The Combine is done. Pro Days are coming. But once draft night hits? Shedeur is on his own. For the first time in his football career, Coach Prime won’t be overseeing the program he plays for. That means no hype, no protection — just a raw evaluation from NFL teams. Now the only question left is which team pulls the trigger first.

Does Shedeur overtake Cam Ward to go No. 1 overall? Does a QB-needy team trade up to secure him? Or does he slip past the top five and land in the perfect situation? One thing’s for sure — LaJohntay Wester believes any team that sleeps on Sanders is making a mistake. The only question now is which team is going to bet on these Buffs legends? And more importantly — who’s going to regret passing them up?