His first name is spelled with two r’s and two t’s, and don’t forget it.

NIU running back Garrett Wolfe has become a household name not just in the homes of NIU football fans, but across all of college football.

Playboy magazine named Wolfe to its first-team preseason All-America team this spring, and ESPN.com and Daily Herald writer Adam Rittenberg wrote a feature about Wolfe April 14.

Next fall, Wolfe will be the nation’s leading returning rusher at 175.6 yards per game, and active career-leading rusher with 3,236 yards and 14 100-yard games.

Thus, it’s no secret why Wolfe is the Northern Star’s No. 1 athlete of the year.

Though Wolfe fought through most of last season with a shoulder injury, he said he’s recovering well from surgery.

Doctors told Wolfe his shoulder would take four to six months to heal, but he said it feels good right now. May 11 will be four months.

“It’s been such a painful experience,” Wolfe said. “To have to deal with it for over the last year before surgery. But rehab has been the most painful part.”

Wolfe’s resiliency and success led his teammates to make him a captain next season.

“It’s an honor I greatly appreciate,” Wolfe said. “I’m not much of a talker, but I like to lead by example. It feels good to know that my teammates and peers see me in that light.”

So, he’s going to be the top returning rusher in college football, but what does Wolfe need to do to get to the next level?

Former NIU running back and running backs coach Thomas Hammock said he does not see a lot of flaws in Wolfe’s game.

However, if Wolfe wants a shot in the NFL, Hammock believes Wolfe needs exposure on special teams by returning punts and kicks.

“Garrett’s a strong competitive leader that works very hard,” Hammock said. “Playing or coaching, he’s the most competitive person I’ve ever been around.”

At 5’7″ and 177 pounds, Wolfe showed last season he could run with the big boys. Against Michigan, Wolfe ran for 148 yards on 17 carries while busting off a 76-yard touchdown run.

The 2006 season will be Wolfe’s fifth at NIU, but the Holy Cross product said he won’t prepare any different than he has for any of the other years.

“His competitiveness is what drives him,” Hammock said. “When you’re hurt and you’re feeling bad, how do you respond?”

After he finishes rehabbing his shoulder, just how is Wolfe going to respond next fall?

“What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” Wolfe said.