Background: The top returning rusher in the nation at one point didn’t know if he’d get out of high school. He grew up in Chicago and his mother placed him in Fenwick, an expensive college prep school in suburban Oak Park. Unfortunately, Wolfe wanted to prep only for a football scholarship, and his mom shipped him off to Holy Cross High School in suburban River Grove. While Wolfe was getting on a bus for the 90-minute ride home, his classmates were getting into SUVs. “I thought, ‘Why can’t I be rich?”‘ Wolfe said. “I stood at the bus stop with my back to the street so they wouldn’t see my face when they drove home.” He attracted Big Ten schools – until they saw his grades. He became a good student at NIU, but a counselor’s error left him one class short during his redshirt freshman year. He had to sit out all of 2003. “I was very devastated,” he said. “I spent a long period of time feeling sorry for myself. It almost caused me to flunk out of school.”
Stat line: He rushed for 1,656 yards and 18 touchdowns as a sophomore and 1,580 and 16 TDs last season, averaging 6.5 yards a carry both years. His 175.6-yard average last season is tops among returning running backs.
What’s up: He’s only 5-feet-7 and 173 pounds, but, “He’s one of those small guys who’s so explosive and has such good balance,” said Ohio State coach Jim Tressel, whose inexperienced defense must stop him Saturday in the Buckeyes’ season opener. “He reminds me of (former Kansas State tailback) Darren Sproles. He’s a good receiver, smart and a veteran. No matter who he’s played against he’s gained a bunch of yards.”
What’s next: A year ago, behind All-America lineman candidate Doug Free, Wolfe shredded Michigan for 148 yards and Northwestern for 245 and three TDs. He had 270 yards against Akron in the Mid-American Conference championship game.
Henderson’s take: The top-ranked Buckeyes have only two returning starters on defense and they’re facing a guy with a chip on his shoulder. “I’ve always been an underdog, because the way I look at it, I’m not supposed to be here,” Wolfe said.
