Wes Pate

Wes Pate
Profile
PositionQuarterback
Personal information
Born (1979-03-24) March 24, 1979
Longview, Texas, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight228 lb (103 kg)
Career information
High schoolArp (Arp, Texas)
CollegeLouisiana Tech (1997–1998)
Stephen F. Austin (1999–2001)
NFL draft2002: 7th round, 236th overall pick
Career history
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Awards and highlights
  • SFL Offensive Player of the Year (2001)
  • 3× Second-team All-SFL (1999–2001)

John Wesley Pate (born March 24, 1979) is an American former football quarterback. He played college football for the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs and Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks. He was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the seventh round of the 2002 NFL draft.

Early life

John Wesley Pate was born on March 24, 1979, in Longview, Texas.[1] He played high school football at Arp High School in Arp, Texas, finishing with career totals of 5,150 yards and 48 touchdowns.[1][2] He earned all-state honors as a senior.[2]

College career

Pate first played college football for the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs of Louisiana Tech University. He was redshirted in 1997.[1] He played in ten games in 1998 as the co-backup (with Brian Stallworth) to starter Tim Rattay, completing 12 of 26 passes for 149 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.[2][3] Pate also spent some time on the kickoff return team.[2]

In 1999, with Rattay returning for another year, Pate transferred to Stephen F. Austin State University to receive more playing time.[2] Pate was a three-year starter for the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks from 1999 to 2001, garnering second-team All-Southland Football League (SFL) recognition each season.[4][5] He completed 197 of 333 passes (59.2%) for 2,626 yards, 19 touchdowns, and eight interceptions his senior year, garnering SFL Offensive Player of the Year recognition.[6] He threw for 6,058 yards and 49 touchdowns overall as a Lumberjack.[6]

Professional career

Pate was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the seventh round, with the 236th overall pick, of the 2003 NFL draft.[1] He officially signed with the team on July 24.[1] He was released on August 30 before the start of the 2002 NFL season, and signed to the team's practice squad on September 3.[1] Pate was later released by the Ravens.[7]

On November 19, 2002, Pate signed with the Chicago Rush of the Arena Football League (AFL) for the 2003 AFL season.[8] He signed with the Seattle Seahawks on January 10, 2003.[1] He was allocated to NFL Europe to play for the Frankfurt Galaxy.[1] However, he suffered an injury and never played in NFL Europe.[1] Pate was later placed on the reserve/non-football injury list.[1] He was released by the Seahawks on December 17, 2003.[1] Pate was activated by the Chicago Rush on January 5, 2004, a month before the start of the 2004 AFL season.[8] He was waived by Chicago on January 16, 2004.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Wes Pate". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved February 25, 2026.
  2. ^ a b c d e Beder, Scott (January 13, 1999). "QB Pate leaves La. Tech". The News-Star. Retrieved February 25, 2026.
  3. ^ "Wesley Pate". Sports Reference. Retrieved February 25, 2026.
  4. ^ McTaggart, Brian (August 15, 2002). "Stephen F. Austin At A Glance". The Houston Chronicle. pp. 2B. Retrieved February 25, 2026.
  5. ^ "Seven 'Jacks Earn All-Southland Football League Honors". Stephen F. Austin State University. November 28, 2001. Retrieved February 25, 2026.
  6. ^ a b "2002 Bowman #183 Wes Pate RC". TCDb.com. Retrieved February 25, 2026.
  7. ^ Dean, Richard (October 16, 2002). "QB standouts a memory now". The Houston Chronicle. pp. 5C. Retrieved February 25, 2026.
  8. ^ a b c "Historical Team Transactions". ArenaFan.com. Retrieved February 25, 2026.