Former Indian makes history with USA football program
Adam Gore/LetsGoICC.com

FULTON, MS – Former ICC Indian Wes Saxton made history by becoming the first-ever player from the University of South Alabama to be invited to the 2015 NFL Combine last week.

Saxton (6'4, 235 lbs.) played his senior year at Hueytown (AL) High School with Florida State QB Jameis Winston before enrolling at ICC as a late academic qualifier in 2011. In his lone season with the Indians, he caught 10 passes for 137 yards to earn second team MACJC All-State honors.

The Birmingham, AL native had offers from Arkansas, Memphis, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, and Southern Miss before signing with the South Alabama Jaguars in 2012.

Saxton started two-and-a-half seasons as a tight end and H-back for South Alabama.

He started six, but played in all 13 games and caught 26 passes as a sophomore. In 2013, he started all 12 of the Jaguars' games and made 50 catches, which ranked third amongst FBS tight ends, and earned first team All-Sun Belt Conference honors. His final season with the Jags' was hampered by nagging injuries, but he still managed to finish fourth on the team with 20 catches for 155 yards.

Saxton played in the East-West Shrine All-Star game this past weekend in St. Petersburg, FL where he continued to open eyes to his abilities on the next level, including NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah. He was asked on Twitter if any tight ends had caught his eye during the events and he wrote "Wes Saxton from South Alabama" in his response.

His appearance in the game was also a first for a former USA player.

Scouts note Saxton's large catching radius along with subtle quickness complimented by his ability to change speeds and get in-and-out of breaks as some of his strong points entering the combine, but also recognizes he has room for improvement as a line-of-scrimmage blocker.   

Saxton's bloodline no stranger to success in the NFL

Saxton is the cousin of former University of Alabama running back Tony Nathan, who was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the third round as the 61st overall pick of the 1979 NFL Draft.

He played nine seasons with Dolphins and was the starting running back in Super Bowl XVII and Super Bowl XIX while etching his name in Miami history by scoring on the infamous hook and lateral play in the Dolphins' 41-38 overtime loss to the San Diego Charges in the 1981 AFC playoff game that later became known as "The Epic in Miami" or "The Game No One Should Have Lost" as dubbed by Sports Illustrated.

After his playing days with the Dolphins, Nathan spent time as the running backs coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (96-01), Florida International University (03-05), Baltimore Ravens (06-07), and San Francisco 49ers (08).

The 2015 NFL Draft Combine will be held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN from February 17-23 with Feb. 20-23 workouts being broadcasted on the NFL Network.

For more information on ICC football, follow ICC Athletics on Twitter (@LetsGoICC).