DeKALB | Is Garrett Wolfe really the best running back in the nation?

According to the stats, that shouldn’t even be a question.

Forget that the senior is about to shatter every record Michael Turner put up at NIU.

He’s on pace to break Barry Sanders’ all-time single-season rushing record of 2,628 yards set in 1988.

Sanders is an NCAA and NFL Hall of Fame athlete, so Wolfe’s name being next to, or above, Sanders’ in the record books is an amazing accomplishment.

There’s only one problem: people still question if he’s the best running back in college.

Well, there’s only one way to prove people wrong: compare Wolfe to the other three running backs that are in the Heisman Trophy watch.

First on the list: Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson.

He runs with power and strength, and can run up the middle, which is an advantage he has over Wolfe. Peterson is also a tall running back who explodes through the line at any time.

His numbers, however, don’t even compare. Peterson has 647 yards rushing with 117 carries and seven touchdowns.

Wolfe already has 1,181 yards with 11 TD’s on just 10 more attempts. I don’t care if Peterson is in the Big 12. Numbers that strong only come from the best.

Next up is West Virginia running back Steve Slaton. This guy is lighting fast. He runs to the outside just as good as Wolfe. He has great acceleration and defenders have a tough time bringing him down.

Slaton’s biggest flaw, however, is his vision. Slaton runs through holes too fast and he’s not patient enough to wait for his blocks.

Wolfe, on the other hand, has lots of patience. At times, Wolfe may not have any holes to run through, but he still finds a way out. That’s how Wolfe has 598 yards and five touchdowns more than Slaton.

Also, Slaton is only a sophomore. In a few years he’ll be the best running back in the nation, but not this year.

Third on the list is Auburn running back Kenny Irons.

This guy is the complete package. He has good vision, great agility and a solid running style. Plus, he’s a lot faster than Wolfe. All of this makes him a Top 10 pick in the draft.

There’s one thing that Irons doesn’t have that Wolfe possesses: consistency. Irons ran for 183 yards the first game of the year. The next two games Irons ran for 139 yards combined. Wolfe has rushed for over 170 yards every game this year.

Also, Irons only has 493 yards rushing so far with three touchdowns while Wolfe has 698 yards and eight touchdowns more than Irons.

But I will say, many NFL teams will be attracted to Irons before Wolfe in the draft. He’s the better pro prospect, but not better than Wolfe in college.

All of these Heisman Trophy guys are good talents in great conferences. But people need to realize that Wolfe is the best player in college football. His numbers prove it.

No one in Division I football ever played this well in five games. And there’s a possibility no one ever will again.

Still have questions about who’s the best?

Lacy Searcy is a Sports Reporter for the Northern Star.