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IFL Bay Area Panthers

Panthers Sign Former New Mexico State WR Jared Wyatt

December 28, 2022 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Bay Area Panthers News Release


Former New Mexico State wide receiver Jared Wyatt lives with an attitude of gratitude. He lives with added appreciation after signing with the Bay Area Panthers of the IFL.

"I'm a big believer in faith...Everything is exactly how it's supposed to be," said Wyatt. "I never lost faith. But I was frustrated a lot of the time because I saw other guys get an opportunity and I thought 'why not me'? But I got to the point where God's going to give me something far greater than I could ever imagine or thought. It all just comes with time and patience. I believe it's a sign that another team is willing to give me another shot."

Coming out of college, Wyatt had a tryout with Calgary of the CFL in June and an XFL tryout in Dallas in July. Those were bumps in the road that only made him stronger.

Wyatt received a call from an unfamiliar number in Washington, dismissing it as spam. That unreturned call was followed by a text from the same number. It was from Bay Area Assistant Head Coach Rob Keefe. Already feeling guilty about not calling back earlier, Wyatt dialed right back for a powerful conversation.

"We talked for a good hour and a half about ball and my journey and his journey. We talked football and life. It was a great conversation and he got me super pumped up to get out there to California and get after it."

Part of Wyatt's character was developed at the start of his college career-spending a year and half at Bowling Green before transferring to Navarro College. In that JC season, Wyatt caught 63 passes for over 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns.

"That was the greatest adversity I faced, "said Wyatt. "Seeing the struggles of a junior college kid. I really feel like I got out the mud and got to see the other side. I ended up going Division I (out of high schools) so I was used getting the gear, meals paid for and textbooks. Then going to junior college and it's the complete opposite. That was a big wake up call for me. I had to understand there are a lot of people that don't have it as good as we have it."

There was no chance to shine during the COVID season of 2021 with New Mexico State playing only two games.

Heading into his senior year, Wyatt was on the NFL radar with Kansas City, Green Bay and Houston expressing some interest. He caught 49 balls for 629 yards and three scores. Wyatt's best game was against Hawaii-making nine catches 114 yards.

The Aggies went only 2-10 in a transition year with Wyatt using the year as another layer of character building.

"I took it as a chip on my shoulder. Regardless of what people may think. Regardless of the score or the outcome of the game, as long as I put my teammates and me in a position to try to be successful, that's all you could really ask for."



Indoor Football League Stories from December 28, 2022


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