For two years, Garrett Wolfe and Michael Turner played together on the same field at NIU from 2002-03.

On Sunday at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, both players will be on the same field, but this time on opposing sidelines as Wolfe’s Chicago Bears visit Turner’s Atlanta Falcons.

Wolfe is first on NIU’s career rushing list with 5,164-yards while Turner is second with 4,941-yards. Wolfe is also first on the career rushing touchdowns list with 52 while Turner is second with 43.

“Two very productive players, two very unselfish players,” said former NIU head coach Joe Novak, who coached both Wolfe and Turner for their entire college careers. “I’m not surprised they’re both in the league.”

TURNER

Turner was drafted in the fifth round of the 2004 draft by the San Diego Chargers. The North Chicago native was productive in San Diego when he got the chance, averaging 5.5-yards per carry from 2004-07. The problem was the Chargers already had a future Hall of Famer in LaDainian Tomlinson.

Turner became a free agent after the 2007 season and signed a six-year $34.5 million contract to become the Falcons’ starting running back. He finally got his chance to shine.

So far, Turner hasn’t disappointed, leading the NFL with 543 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns on the season. This is with a surprising 3-2 Falcons team that went 4-12 a year ago and is starting a rookie quarterback, Matt Ryan.

“I’m just making the most of my opportunity right now,” Turner said. “Nobody can predict the NFL season; you just have to play hard every week.”

Even though he was forced to sit behind probably the league’s best running back the first four years of his career, Turner said in the end, it was a good thing.

“I took the positive side of it and I took advantage of being behind him,” Turner said. “I don’t think there’s another back in the league you would rather learn from.”

Though Turner has pro experience, he’s still fresh. This is important in a league where many running backs wear down quickly.

“I met (Atlanta’s) head coach this spring and he said what they were excited about with Mike is he’s been in the league and shown he can play, but he hasn’t carried the ball a lot,” Novak said.

“He’s a veteran who doesn’t have a lot of wear and tear on his body.”

WOLFE

On April 28, 2007, Garrett Wolfe was in DeKalb driving back from McDonald’s. He received a phone call from his agent, who told him he was selected by the Chicago Bears in the third round of the 2007 NFL draft.

The player everyone said was too small at 5 feet 7 inches would get the a chance to play in his hometown.

“It was a surreal experience,” Wolfe said. “Having the opportunity not only to pursue my dream but having the opportunity in the city of Chicago where I grew up. It made it that much more sweet.”

Wolfe’s NIU career is loaded with accolades. In addition to being the career rushing and touchdown leader, he’s second on the single season rushing list behind LeShon Johnson with 1,580-yards his senior season in 2006. He also holds the single game record with 353 yards against Ball State on Sept. 30, 2006.

Both backs played against each other last season when the Bears visited San Diego in week one, and Wolfe says he and Turner still talk once in awhile.

“It’s definitely good to see Michael get the opportunity and get the chance that he wanted,” Wolfe said. “Now the world can see just how talented he is.”

Things haven’t gone as well for Wolfe in his time with the Bears. Wolfe carried the ball 31 times in 2007 and has only had nine carries so far this season.

But Wolfe has time: Turner only had 20 carries his rookie year and now seems to be doing just fine.