KC Concepcion
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Texas A&M wide receiver KC Concepcion.
In the face of some vile insults online, Texas A&M wide receiver and NFL draft prospect KC Concepcion has found out he has some pretty powerful friends.
The latest to come forward and stand up for Concepcion, who was mocked for his stutter at the NFL scouting combine, is NBA legend and Basketball Hall of Famer Charles Barkley, who became emotional speaking about the online hate Concepcion received following his time at the combine.
“Y’all reached a new low for me, and it hurt me,” Barkley said on The Steam Room podcast with Ernie Johnson on Sunday. “Now, I’m getting emotional because I was so pissed when I heard about it. So, this kid has a stuttering problem and a speech impediment … I saw some of my friends who know why I hate social media sent me some of the comments that you people were making about this kid. Man, you are the lowest people. To see all the mean-spirited comments, I’m like, yo, who sits at home behind a computer, say, ‘Hey, you know what? Let me make fun of this kid.’ It just broke my heart. And I wish this kid … I hope he makes it.”
KC Concepcion Stands Strong Against Online Trolls
Concepcion’s stuttering was put on full display as he spoke with reporters at the NFL scouting combine, and instead of shying away from the online hate he met it head on with several posts on his Instagram stories.
In that very specific way, regardless of what happens moving forward, Concepcion will always be a hero to many.
“I just wanna say something. If you have a speech impediment, there is nothing wrong with us,” Concepcion said. “I have had this stutter since I can remember talking. This is a part of me. This is who I am. I cannot control this. I wanna be a role model for those who may be scared to speak up, who may be afraid and not confident in yourself. I stand with you. This weekend has taught me a lot about myself and people out there in this world. I appreciate everyone who supports me and has reached out to me after these interviews. Don’t let (an) outside person’s thoughts, opinions get in the way of you being great, of achieving something in life. I am blessed to be in this position that I am in, and I want to help give back to those who are scared to speak up, who aren’t as confident. I stand with you. I will always stand with you. We are different for a reason.”
Concepcion isn’t the only elite athlete to confront stuttering — and the public’s perception of it head-on. Four-time MLB All-Star and 2017 World Series MVP outfielder George Springer has been an outspoken advocate as well.
Concepcion Had Breakout Season in 2025
Concepcion, 6-foot and 196 pounds, set himself up for the 2026 NFL draft with a breakout season for Texas A&M in 2025, with 61 receptions for 919 yards and 11 total touchdowns. Concepcion had 1,375 all-purpose yards as he was also a punt returner and earned All-American honors as an all-purpose player.
“While he has a one-speed approach, he can snap off routes with alarming suddenness, making him extremely difficult to match at leveraged break points,” NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein wrote. “He’s instinctive against zone. He’s also a nightmare for man coverage on choice routes and near the goal line … Concepcion’s ability to quickly uncover should be very appealing to teams with spotty protection and a young quarterback.”