Photo by: © Tim Cowie | GWUPhotos.com
Gardner-Webb's TJ Luther Signs Free Agent Deal With NFL's New York Jets
April 29, 2023 | Football
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Gardner-Webb receiver TJ Luther signed a rookie free agent deal with the New York Jets on Saturday evening.
Luther (Arcadia, Fla. / Port Charlotte HS) earned FCS All-America honors from Phil Steele College Football following a terrific senior season with the Runnin' Bulldogs.
The 6-0, 185-pound standout led Gardner-Webb with a career-high 63 catches for 1,166 yards and eight touchdowns in 2022, sparking the Runnin' Bulldogs to seven wins, an undefeated Big South Conference season and a first-round win at Eastern Kentucky in the FCS Playoffs.
It was the program's first conference title in 19 seasons and first-ever appearance in the FCS Playoffs.
Luther was the Big South Conference's yardage leader and had seven games with at least 100 yards receiving. He had two of his best games against FBS foes, catching five balls for a season-high 188 yards at Coastal Carolina and hauling in eight catches for 131 yards and a touchdown at Liberty.
In addition to All-America honors, Luther was a first-team All-Big South Conference selection following the season.
In his two seasons at Gardner-Webb, Luther caught 84 passes for 1,550 yards and 12 touchdowns in 20 games.
Luther was Gardner-Webb's 89th FCS/Division I-AA All-America selection and the 122nd All-America selection in the program's senior college history (since 1970).
He is the first receiver prospect to sign a free agent deal with an NFL team since All-America Kenny Cook did so with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2015.
Luther is the sixth Gardner-Webb receiver to sign with an NFL team, joining Cook, Dobson Collins (49ers, 2009), Eric Harris (Falcons, 1998), Terry Guess (Saints, 1996) and Tony Suber (Bills, 1982). Guess was a fifth round pick of the Saints.
Gardner-Webb has seen 19 of its student-athletes signed or drafted by the NFL sine 1973. Linebacker Lee Thompson signed with the Houston Oilers in 1973, spearheading that group.
Luther (Arcadia, Fla. / Port Charlotte HS) earned FCS All-America honors from Phil Steele College Football following a terrific senior season with the Runnin' Bulldogs.
The 6-0, 185-pound standout led Gardner-Webb with a career-high 63 catches for 1,166 yards and eight touchdowns in 2022, sparking the Runnin' Bulldogs to seven wins, an undefeated Big South Conference season and a first-round win at Eastern Kentucky in the FCS Playoffs.
It was the program's first conference title in 19 seasons and first-ever appearance in the FCS Playoffs.
Luther was the Big South Conference's yardage leader and had seven games with at least 100 yards receiving. He had two of his best games against FBS foes, catching five balls for a season-high 188 yards at Coastal Carolina and hauling in eight catches for 131 yards and a touchdown at Liberty.
In addition to All-America honors, Luther was a first-team All-Big South Conference selection following the season.
In his two seasons at Gardner-Webb, Luther caught 84 passes for 1,550 yards and 12 touchdowns in 20 games.
Luther was Gardner-Webb's 89th FCS/Division I-AA All-America selection and the 122nd All-America selection in the program's senior college history (since 1970).
He is the first receiver prospect to sign a free agent deal with an NFL team since All-America Kenny Cook did so with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2015.
Luther is the sixth Gardner-Webb receiver to sign with an NFL team, joining Cook, Dobson Collins (49ers, 2009), Eric Harris (Falcons, 1998), Terry Guess (Saints, 1996) and Tony Suber (Bills, 1982). Guess was a fifth round pick of the Saints.
Gardner-Webb has seen 19 of its student-athletes signed or drafted by the NFL sine 1973. Linebacker Lee Thompson signed with the Houston Oilers in 1973, spearheading that group.
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