A converted quarterback turned record-breaking all-purpose weapon, Michael Wortham signed with Jacksonville after a Walter Payton Award finalist season at Montana.
Michael Wortham's path to the NFL is anything but conventional: he started his college career as a starting quarterback at Sierra College before reinventing himself as a receiver and return specialist. By 2025, he was one of the most explosive players in the FCS, and he signed with the Jaguars as an undrafted free agent looking to carve out a role in the return game and receiving corps.
Path to the league
Wortham began his career as a backup, then starting, quarterback at Sierra College, throwing for 2,180 yards and 17 touchdowns as a sophomore while also rushing for 845 yards and 13 scores. He transitioned to receiver and returner at Eastern Washington before transferring to Montana for his final season. He went undrafted in the 2026 NFL draft and signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars on April 26, 2026.
Career highlights
At Eastern Washington, Wortham set a school record with 1,093 return yards in 2024 and earned first-team All-Big Sky and second-team FCS All-American honors. He capped his college career at Montana in 2025 with a program single-season record of 2,265 all-purpose yards, earning first-team All-Big Sky and first-team FCS All-American recognition along with a Walter Payton Award finalist nod.
2025 season recap
In his lone season at Montana, Wortham caught 85 passes for 1,224 yards and 10 touchdowns, added 345 rushing yards, and contributed 862 return yards, totaling 2,265 all-purpose yards, a program single-season record. The performance made him a first-team FCS All-American and a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, college football's top FCS honor.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Michael Wortham
- ESPN: Michael Wortham
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Wide Receiver
- Group
- offense
- College
- Montana
- Hometown
- North Highlands, CA, USA
- Age
- 24
- Status
- active
