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Garrett Wolfe First Rookie to Sign

by David Kindervater on May 15th, 2007

Chicago Bears third-round pick Garrett Wolfe was the first rookie of 2007 to sign a contract with the team that drafted him. The four-year deal was inked today and it solidifies a great situation for both the Bears and Garrett. Chicago gets the nation’s leading rusher (Div. I-A Northern Illinois) and Garrett, who grew up in Chicago cheering for the Bears, gets a dream-come-true moment to sign and play for his hometown team. The word around Halas Hall is that Garrett impressed the Bears coaches with his speed, elusiveness and pass-catching ability during the team’s recent rookie minicamp. Expect to see and hear more of that because the Bears got a steal with Garrett Wolfe. I think he’s going to make those who thought he was too small (5′7″ 186 pounds) eat their words. Just look what he did in his college career. He was the MAC Offensive Player of the Year in his final two seasons at Northern Illinois, leading the nation in rushing last year as a senior with 1,928 yards and 18 touchdowns on 309 carries. He completed his collegiate career ranked fourth all-time in Division I-A annals with a rushing average of 156.5 yards per game, surpassed only by Ed Marinaro, O.J. Simpson and Herschel Walker. Garrett also ranks seventh in NCAA history in career points per game (10.4) and career all-purpose yards per game (181.3). His career average of 6.4 yards per rushing attempt set an NCAA Division I-A record (minimum 780 carries), while he also set NIU marks for career touchdown runs (52), total touchdowns (57), 100-yard rushing performances (22) and 200-yard rushing performances (10). He also ranked second in all-purpose yards (5,983) and points scored (344). You can’t argue with that kind of productivity.

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POSTED IN: Chicago Bears