Wes Bautovich
Encyclopedia
West Bautovich is a former American football
quarterback
and strong safety for Texas A&M University-Kingsville and Texas A&M University
. He played briefly for the National Football League
's New York Jets
.
in Kennedale, Texas
and was a letterman in football
and baseball
. In football, as a senior, he was named as the District's Offensive MVP.
during the 1997 season. Bautovich was the Javelina's starting
quarterback
in 1998 and completed 53-of-118 passes for 754 yards and 8 touchdowns. He also rushed for 366 yards and scored 6 touchdowns on the ground.
In 1999, Bautovich enrolled at Texas A&M
and joined the team as a walk-on, serving as a scout team
quarterback for that season. With the Aggies deep at quarterback but thin at safety, A&M coaches approached Bautovich about moving to the defensive side of the ball during spring practice in 2000.
Bautovich made an immediate impact playing in the season-opener at Notre Dame
and then made two starts against Wyoming
and UTEP
in place of injured free safety Michael Jameson. Overall, he played in every game and made three starts in 2000, recording 45 tackles
– eighth best on the team – and breaking up seven passes. During the 2000 season, Bautovich was also awarded a scholarship
.
In 2001 Bautovich also received considerable playing time, including a career-best 18 tackles against Kansas State
. In total he tallied 104 tackles, two interceptions and 10 passes defensed
in two seasons for the Aggies.
, even returning a Carson Palmer
interception 78 yards for a touchdown. Bautovich was cut by the Jets who allocated him to the Rhein Fire
of NFL Europa, where played linebacker
and recorded 15 tackles and a forced fumble
. On January 26, 2008, he was drafted in the 12th round by Team Texas in the AAFL
draft, but the season was ultimately cancelled.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
and strong safety for Texas A&M University-Kingsville and Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
. He played briefly for the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
's New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
High school years
Bautovich attended Kennedale High SchoolKennedale High School
Kennedale High School is a public high school in Kennedale, Texas. The only high school in the Kennedale Independent School District, it serves students in Kennedale and a small part of Arlington...
in Kennedale, Texas
Kennedale, Texas
Kennedale is a city in Tarrant County, Texas, United States. The population was 6,763 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Kennedale is located at ....
and was a letterman in football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
and baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
. In football, as a senior, he was named as the District's Offensive MVP.
College
Bautovich signed with Texas A&M-Kingsville and was a redshirtRedshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
during the 1997 season. Bautovich was the Javelina's starting
Starting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
in 1998 and completed 53-of-118 passes for 754 yards and 8 touchdowns. He also rushed for 366 yards and scored 6 touchdowns on the ground.
In 1999, Bautovich enrolled at Texas A&M
Texas A&M Aggies
Texas A&M Aggies refers to the students, graduates, and sports teams of Texas A&M University. The nickname "Aggie" is common at land-grant or "Ag" schools in many states. The teams compete in Division I of NCAA sports...
and joined the team as a walk-on, serving as a scout team
Scout team
In sports, the scout team, also referred to as a practice team, taxi squad, practice squad or practice roster, is a group of players on a team whose task is to emulate future opponents for the featured players. Frequently used in American or Canadian Football, these teams consist of less...
quarterback for that season. With the Aggies deep at quarterback but thin at safety, A&M coaches approached Bautovich about moving to the defensive side of the ball during spring practice in 2000.
Bautovich made an immediate impact playing in the season-opener at Notre Dame
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Notre Dame's nickname is inherited from Irish immigrant soldiers who fought in the Civil War with the Union's Irish Brigade, , recollected among other places in the poetry of Joyce Kilmer who served with one of the Irish Brigade regiments during World War I...
and then made two starts against Wyoming
Wyoming Cowboys
Wyoming Cowboys is the name given to the sports teams of the University of Wyoming. The women's teams use the name Cowgirls. The University is a member of the Mountain West Conference and competes in NCAA Division I, fielding 17 NCAA-sanctioned sports. Wrestling is the only varsity sport that is...
and UTEP
UTEP Miners
The UTEP Miners is the name given to the sports teams of the University of Texas at El Paso. Informally, the UTEP Miners have also been referred to as the Miners, UTEP, or Texas-El Paso. UTEP was a member of the Western Athletic Conference from 1967 to 2005, when they joined Rice, Tulsa, and SMU in...
in place of injured free safety Michael Jameson. Overall, he played in every game and made three starts in 2000, recording 45 tackles
Tackle (football move)
Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend....
– eighth best on the team – and breaking up seven passes. During the 2000 season, Bautovich was also awarded a scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
.
In 2001 Bautovich also received considerable playing time, including a career-best 18 tackles against Kansas State
Kansas State Wildcats
Kansas State University's athletic teams are called the Wildcats. The official color of the teams is Royal Purple, making Kansas State one of very few schools that have only one official color; white and silver are generally used as complementary colors.Kansas State participates in...
. In total he tallied 104 tackles, two interceptions and 10 passes defensed
Pass deflected
In American football a pass deflected, also known as a pass defended, a pass defensed, a pass knock down, or a pass break up, is an incomplete pass that is caused by a defensive player...
in two seasons for the Aggies.
Professional
Although Bautovich went undrafted, he played in the preseason with the New York JetsNew York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, even returning a Carson Palmer
Carson Palmer
Carson Palmer is an American professional football quarterback for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals first overall in the 2003 NFL Draft. He played collegiately at the University of Southern California and won the Heisman Trophy in 2002...
interception 78 yards for a touchdown. Bautovich was cut by the Jets who allocated him to the Rhein Fire
Rhein Fire
The Rhein Fire was a professional American football team in NFL Europe, formerly the World League of American Football. Established in Germany in 1995, the franchise resurrected the name of the former Birmingham Fire team which was active during the 1991-1992 WLAF seasons.-History:The team was...
of NFL Europa, where played linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
and recorded 15 tackles and a forced fumble
Fumble
A fumble in American and Canadian football occurs when a player, who has possession and control of the ball loses it before being downed or scoring. By rule, it is any act other than passing, kicking or successful handing that results in loss of player possession...
. On January 26, 2008, he was drafted in the 12th round by Team Texas in the AAFL
2008 AAFL Draft
The 2008 AAFL Draft took place in Atlanta, GA on January 26, 2008. It was used to stock the six teams that were to play the league's 2008 season, which was ultimately canceled...
draft, but the season was ultimately cancelled.