Welcher left ESU as the leading career rusher in school history and is currently ranked fifth all-time with 3,198 yards. He was a second-team NAIA All-American, honorable mention AP?Little All-American, and Great Plains Athletic Conference Player of the Year in 1973. He earned All-District and All-GPAC honors in both 1972 and 1973. He helped ESU to GPAC?championships in 1972-73 and a berth in the 1972 Boot Hill Bowl.