Pack93z
You retired too? .... Not me. I'm in my prime
Would he have a place on the roster for special teams and a third down, squirmmy type runner and reciever out of the backfield?
Wolfe is one of the most electrifying runners in the collegiate game and proof that big things do come in small packages. Built more in the lines of the team manager rather than a featured back, he has rewritten numerous school, Mid-American Conference and NCAA rushing and all-purpose yardage records in his three years on the Northern Illinois gridiron.
Wolfe was an all-state tailback at Holy Cross High School, where he set 11 team records. He was named team Offensive Most Valuable Player as a senior, adding first-team Catholic League All-Red Metro Division and league MVP, Pioneer Press all-area, honorable mention Chicago Sun-Times all-area and area top 100 prospect list that year.
Wolfe was also an honorable mention Chicago Tribune all-state choice while leading the team to the state Class 5A playoffs in 2001. He ran for 2,041 yards and 24 touchdowns during his final season, finishing his career with 4,311 rushing yards and 56 touchdowns during his final two years.
Wolfe was awarded team Offensive MVP honors as a junior. He was also a first-team Catholic League All-Metro Red Division and league MVP, Pioneer Press all-area, Chicago Sun-Times all-area and Class 4A-6A all-state pick that season. He added Prep Star All-America accolades for a team that finished 11-2 and played in the Class 4A quarterfinals.
He led the Chicago area in rushing (2,270 yards and 32 touchdowns on 272 carries) in 2000, while also returning nine kickoffs for 378 yards (42.0 avg.) and three scores (87, 89, and 91 yards) and four punts for 146 yards (36.5 avg.) and one touchdown. Wolfe also lettered as a sophomore at Fenwick High School, transferring to Holy Cross the following year. At Fenwick, he lettered in track as a freshman and at 4-feet-10, 85 pounds, he caught eight touchdown passes and was the Chicago Park District League's Rookie of the Year. He also played quarterback and defensive back.
Wolfe enrolled at Northern Illinois in 2002, but spent the season on the scout team, as he was listed ninth on the depth chart at halfback. He was ruled academically ineligible in 2003, delaying his collegiate debut until 2004. That year, he earned All-Mid American Conference first-team honors, marking the fifth consecutive year a Husky tailback was named to the All-MAC team.
He saw limited action early in the 2004 season before starting six of the team's final seven games. Wolfe led the team with 256 carries for 1,656 yards (6.5 avg.) and 18 touchdowns. He caught 10 passes for 117 yards (11.7 avg.) and three scores, adding 231 yards on 11 kickoff returns (21.0 avg.). He scored 126 points and averaged 182.2 all-purpose yards per game.
Wolfe was named MAC Offensive Player of the Year in 2005, as he again led the league in rushing, all-purpose yardage and scoring. He played in nine games, missing two with a left knee strain, but still managed to total 1,580 yards with 16 touchdowns on 242 attempts (6.5 avg.). He caught 20 passes for 222 yards (11.1 avg.) and a score, gaining 1,802 yards while registering 102 points.
Wolfe missed 2006 spring drills while recovering from shoulder surgery, but was ready to go by the season opener. He was again named MAC Offensive Player of the Year and earned All-America honors while leading the nation with an average of 158.33 yards rushing and 178.92 all-purpose yards per game. He collected 1,900 yards with 18 touchdowns on 289 chances (6.6 avg.). He ranked third on the team with 26 receptions for 247 yards (9.5 avg.) and one score. Wolfe piled up 2,147 all-purpose yards and scored 116 points.
In 32 games at Northern Illinois, Wolfe started 27 times. He became the first player in Mid-American Conference history to lead the league in rushing, all-purpose yardage and scoring three consecutive seasons. He carried 787 times for 5,136 yards (6.5 avg.) and 52 touchdowns. Wolfe grabbed 56 passes for 586 yards (10.5 avg.) and five scores. He gained 231 yards on 11 kickoff returns (21.0 avg.) and scored 344 points. He also touched the ball 854 times for 5,953 all-purpose yards and 57 touchdowns.
ANALYSIS
Positives: Has a strong upper-body frame with muscular arms and powerful leg drive … Few backs have the explosive burst, balance, agility and foot speed that Wolfe displays … Has that sudden change-of-direction agility that makes the initial tackler miss and outstanding flexibility to redirect to the cutback lanes … Gets to top speed in a hurry and needs little room to accelerate … Alert to coverages and shows good field vision to pick and slide through the holes … Has exceptional quickness, but also shows patience letting blocks develop … Puts in extra hours studying tapes and is a minimal rep type who can take plays from the board to the field … His initial explosion coming out of his stance allows him to race past the slower defenders into the second level, change direction and burst through the cutback lane … Has exceptional quickness in the hole and makes good decisions waiting for blocks to develop … Very crisp changing direction and has the burst to make jump cuts … Has excellent open-field acceleration and stays low in his pads, doing a fine job of planting and driving out of his cuts … Possesses that quick thrust through the hole that simply surprises the lethargic defender … When he hits the seam, his burst is sudden and he consistently separates from the pile … Has a good feel through the crease, but is especially effective bouncing outside or separating when taking the ball along the perimeter … Scans the field well and has natural run instincts, using his vision in the hole and in space to avoid … The thing you see on film is his consistency when stepping out of tackles to get up field … Knows he has that second gear needed to pull away from the crowd and has outstanding balance and quickness bouncing out to the corner … Has the feet to step out of tackles and constantly keeps his legs moving … Has the vision to see threats and the shake to make the initial tackler miss … Also shows natural run instincts, good vision and change-of-direction agility, and his ability to shift gears without throttling down makes him dangerous around the corner … Demonstrates good concentration to look the ball in and has the loose hips to make adjustments in the short-area passing game.
Negatives: Despite a lack of size and bulk, Wolfe has a well-developed frame, but not much room for additional growth … Lacks thickness in his thighs and calves to power through tackles … Has struggled academically, but is a smart kid who just needs to apply himself where books are concerned … Might have durability and size issues that will scare away more than a few teams looking for a feature back … Quick to locate the seams and keeps his pads down to drive hard, but despite his weight-room strength, he lacks the power and bulk to move the pile … Shows good urgency running between tackles, but unless he generates a burst through the seam, he can be gobbled up … Keeps his feet moving to break tackles and is able to make jump cuts at the hole, but unless he gets room to be creative he gets pushed back through the rush lane … Shows good ball security, but most of his fumbles are the result of defenders knocking the ball out from behind … Carries the ball high and tight through the holes, but when he gets whacked from behind, he will see the ball squirt out, even though this has not been a costly issue (five fumbles, with four recovered by the opposition in his last two years) … Doesn't take many head-on shots and can hit it up the seam, but he is more elusive than a runner who can drive through contact … Has the upper-body power to break arm tackles, but lacks the playing strength and bulk to push the pile … Used mostly on screens and dump-offs, as his size makes it difficult for passers to locate him in a crowd … Has a good feel for the ball in flight, maintaining balance in his short-area route progression, but takes soft angle cuts going for the ball past the second level.
Compares To: Dave Meggett, ex-New York Giants/New England Patriots -- Like Meggett, Wolfe proved to all doubters that it is not the size of the player, but the heart … Wolfe lacks the return skills that Meggett displayed, but both were much stronger than their size indicated and have those explosive moves that simply frustrate second-level defenders … Wolfe won't be a featured back at the pro level, but can be a dangerous threat on third down, whether as a change-of-pace runner or lining up in the slot as a receiver.
Wolfe is one of the most electrifying runners in the collegiate game and proof that big things do come in small packages. Built more in the lines of the team manager rather than a featured back, he has rewritten numerous school, Mid-American Conference and NCAA rushing and all-purpose yardage records in his three years on the Northern Illinois gridiron.
Wolfe was an all-state tailback at Holy Cross High School, where he set 11 team records. He was named team Offensive Most Valuable Player as a senior, adding first-team Catholic League All-Red Metro Division and league MVP, Pioneer Press all-area, honorable mention Chicago Sun-Times all-area and area top 100 prospect list that year.
Wolfe was also an honorable mention Chicago Tribune all-state choice while leading the team to the state Class 5A playoffs in 2001. He ran for 2,041 yards and 24 touchdowns during his final season, finishing his career with 4,311 rushing yards and 56 touchdowns during his final two years.
Wolfe was awarded team Offensive MVP honors as a junior. He was also a first-team Catholic League All-Metro Red Division and league MVP, Pioneer Press all-area, Chicago Sun-Times all-area and Class 4A-6A all-state pick that season. He added Prep Star All-America accolades for a team that finished 11-2 and played in the Class 4A quarterfinals.
He led the Chicago area in rushing (2,270 yards and 32 touchdowns on 272 carries) in 2000, while also returning nine kickoffs for 378 yards (42.0 avg.) and three scores (87, 89, and 91 yards) and four punts for 146 yards (36.5 avg.) and one touchdown. Wolfe also lettered as a sophomore at Fenwick High School, transferring to Holy Cross the following year. At Fenwick, he lettered in track as a freshman and at 4-feet-10, 85 pounds, he caught eight touchdown passes and was the Chicago Park District League's Rookie of the Year. He also played quarterback and defensive back.
Wolfe enrolled at Northern Illinois in 2002, but spent the season on the scout team, as he was listed ninth on the depth chart at halfback. He was ruled academically ineligible in 2003, delaying his collegiate debut until 2004. That year, he earned All-Mid American Conference first-team honors, marking the fifth consecutive year a Husky tailback was named to the All-MAC team.
He saw limited action early in the 2004 season before starting six of the team's final seven games. Wolfe led the team with 256 carries for 1,656 yards (6.5 avg.) and 18 touchdowns. He caught 10 passes for 117 yards (11.7 avg.) and three scores, adding 231 yards on 11 kickoff returns (21.0 avg.). He scored 126 points and averaged 182.2 all-purpose yards per game.
Wolfe was named MAC Offensive Player of the Year in 2005, as he again led the league in rushing, all-purpose yardage and scoring. He played in nine games, missing two with a left knee strain, but still managed to total 1,580 yards with 16 touchdowns on 242 attempts (6.5 avg.). He caught 20 passes for 222 yards (11.1 avg.) and a score, gaining 1,802 yards while registering 102 points.
Wolfe missed 2006 spring drills while recovering from shoulder surgery, but was ready to go by the season opener. He was again named MAC Offensive Player of the Year and earned All-America honors while leading the nation with an average of 158.33 yards rushing and 178.92 all-purpose yards per game. He collected 1,900 yards with 18 touchdowns on 289 chances (6.6 avg.). He ranked third on the team with 26 receptions for 247 yards (9.5 avg.) and one score. Wolfe piled up 2,147 all-purpose yards and scored 116 points.
In 32 games at Northern Illinois, Wolfe started 27 times. He became the first player in Mid-American Conference history to lead the league in rushing, all-purpose yardage and scoring three consecutive seasons. He carried 787 times for 5,136 yards (6.5 avg.) and 52 touchdowns. Wolfe grabbed 56 passes for 586 yards (10.5 avg.) and five scores. He gained 231 yards on 11 kickoff returns (21.0 avg.) and scored 344 points. He also touched the ball 854 times for 5,953 all-purpose yards and 57 touchdowns.
ANALYSIS
Positives: Has a strong upper-body frame with muscular arms and powerful leg drive … Few backs have the explosive burst, balance, agility and foot speed that Wolfe displays … Has that sudden change-of-direction agility that makes the initial tackler miss and outstanding flexibility to redirect to the cutback lanes … Gets to top speed in a hurry and needs little room to accelerate … Alert to coverages and shows good field vision to pick and slide through the holes … Has exceptional quickness, but also shows patience letting blocks develop … Puts in extra hours studying tapes and is a minimal rep type who can take plays from the board to the field … His initial explosion coming out of his stance allows him to race past the slower defenders into the second level, change direction and burst through the cutback lane … Has exceptional quickness in the hole and makes good decisions waiting for blocks to develop … Very crisp changing direction and has the burst to make jump cuts … Has excellent open-field acceleration and stays low in his pads, doing a fine job of planting and driving out of his cuts … Possesses that quick thrust through the hole that simply surprises the lethargic defender … When he hits the seam, his burst is sudden and he consistently separates from the pile … Has a good feel through the crease, but is especially effective bouncing outside or separating when taking the ball along the perimeter … Scans the field well and has natural run instincts, using his vision in the hole and in space to avoid … The thing you see on film is his consistency when stepping out of tackles to get up field … Knows he has that second gear needed to pull away from the crowd and has outstanding balance and quickness bouncing out to the corner … Has the feet to step out of tackles and constantly keeps his legs moving … Has the vision to see threats and the shake to make the initial tackler miss … Also shows natural run instincts, good vision and change-of-direction agility, and his ability to shift gears without throttling down makes him dangerous around the corner … Demonstrates good concentration to look the ball in and has the loose hips to make adjustments in the short-area passing game.
Negatives: Despite a lack of size and bulk, Wolfe has a well-developed frame, but not much room for additional growth … Lacks thickness in his thighs and calves to power through tackles … Has struggled academically, but is a smart kid who just needs to apply himself where books are concerned … Might have durability and size issues that will scare away more than a few teams looking for a feature back … Quick to locate the seams and keeps his pads down to drive hard, but despite his weight-room strength, he lacks the power and bulk to move the pile … Shows good urgency running between tackles, but unless he generates a burst through the seam, he can be gobbled up … Keeps his feet moving to break tackles and is able to make jump cuts at the hole, but unless he gets room to be creative he gets pushed back through the rush lane … Shows good ball security, but most of his fumbles are the result of defenders knocking the ball out from behind … Carries the ball high and tight through the holes, but when he gets whacked from behind, he will see the ball squirt out, even though this has not been a costly issue (five fumbles, with four recovered by the opposition in his last two years) … Doesn't take many head-on shots and can hit it up the seam, but he is more elusive than a runner who can drive through contact … Has the upper-body power to break arm tackles, but lacks the playing strength and bulk to push the pile … Used mostly on screens and dump-offs, as his size makes it difficult for passers to locate him in a crowd … Has a good feel for the ball in flight, maintaining balance in his short-area route progression, but takes soft angle cuts going for the ball past the second level.
Compares To: Dave Meggett, ex-New York Giants/New England Patriots -- Like Meggett, Wolfe proved to all doubters that it is not the size of the player, but the heart … Wolfe lacks the return skills that Meggett displayed, but both were much stronger than their size indicated and have those explosive moves that simply frustrate second-level defenders … Wolfe won't be a featured back at the pro level, but can be a dangerous threat on third down, whether as a change-of-pace runner or lining up in the slot as a receiver.