June 14, 2006

DeKALB, IL --- Really, it's quite logical.Being the nation's No. 1 returning major-college rusher and included on several preseason All-America teams and Heisman Trophy mentions just makes Northern Illinois University senior tailback Garrett Wolfe a natural for this prestigious football accolade.

Garrett Wolfe.The 70th Maxwell Award watch list.

Yes, for the second consecutive year, the 5-foot-7, 177-pound human rushing dynamo made the Maxwell Award watch list as a candidate the Collegiate Player of the Year.

Wolfe (Chicago / River Grove Holy Cross) made the exclusive 60-player list Tuesday (June 13), according to an announcement from the Maxwell Football Club of Philadelphia and its advisory committee.

The only Mid-American Conference representative on this years Maxwell Award list, Wolfe finds himself in some exclusive company such as Ohio State University wide receiver Ted Ginn, University of Michigan runningback Michael Hart, University of Southern California wide receiver Dwayne Jarrett, University of Oklahoma runningback Adrian Peterson, University of Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn, Northwestern University runningback Tyrell Sutton, University of Iowa quarterback Drew Tate, etc., etc., etc.

"Sure, Garrett deserves all this," said 11th season Huskie boss Joe Novak."He's certainly had two great years of production.He's the nations top active career rusher, the nations No. 1 returning major-college rusher, and the nation's No. 1 returning all-purpose yardage player.No returning player in the country has rushed for as much yardage as Garrett has the last two years.Those are some pretty impressive credentials."

"In my eyes, he's a viable candidate for the Maxwell Award or any other honor," Novak added."Bottom line for a tailback at Southern Cal or Northern Illinois is production.Garrett's done it, big-time.He's run the ball against two Big Ten (Conference) bowl teams, on national television, in critical games, and set the national Division 1-A conference championship single-game record (270 yards) last December.Garrett's one of the best football players Ive ever been around."

In Huskie terms and, during the Novak era (1996 to the present), that is not chopped liver.Novak's Northern Illinois program is in the midst of a seven-year run of 1,000-yard rushers---tailbacks William Andrews (1,127 yards in 1999), Thomas Hammock (1,083 yards in 2000 and 1,096 yards in 2001), Michael "The Burner" Turner (1,915 yards in 2002 and 1,648 yards in 2003), and Wolfe (1,656 yards in 2004 and 1,580 yards in 2005).Both Turner and Wolfe earned Heisman Trophy votes and All-America notice.And this is the same school that produced national major-college rushing champions Mark Kellar (1973) and LeShon Johnson (1993).

Entering 2006 with 3,236 career rushing yards (161.8 yards-per-game average) and 34 ground touchdowns, Wolfe averaged 175.6 ypg. rushing and 200.2 ypg. all-purpose during 2005.To date, No. 1 has made four 2006 preseason All-America units---First-Team Playboy All-America, First-Team Blue Ribbon Digest All-America, Second-Team Football Action All-America, and Second-Team NationalChamps.Net All-America.

Yes, the national media has noticed, too.

"Pound-for-pound (Wolfe is) the best player in college football," wrote Bruce Feldman on ESPN.com in regards to the college games top Offensive Difference-Makers this week."The 5-foot-7, 177-pounder rushed for almost 1,600 yards, despite missing three games last season.And don't say, Well, hes just a mid-major guy feasting on inferior defenses.Wolfe did all he could last season keeping NIU in the game against both Michigan and Northwestern (both road games) by rushing for 393 yards and averaging almost eight yards per rush..."

Twelve semi-finalists will be announced for the Maxwell Award in October and the field will be narrowed to three finalists by November.The winner of the Maxwell Award will be announced at the Home Depot College Football Awards Show on ESPN this December.The formal presentation of the Maxwell Award will occur at the Maxwell Football Club Awards Banquet in March, 2007.

(For further information, please contact Mike Korcek) -NIU-