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University of Minnesota Athletics
Wolitarsky Quietly Producing Big Numbers
10/13/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
Drew Wolitarsky isn't flashy or demonstrative. He doesn't scream after a big catch or signal a first down after he helps move the chains. Instead he runs back to the huddle and gets ready for the next play.
He's a bit old-school that way and because of that, his production as a Gopher has not always gotten the attention it has deserved.
"It goes back to what Coach Kill used to say all the time, just do your job," said Wolitarsky. "I really enjoy doing my job. I enjoy making third down conversions. When the team is relying on me I like to be the guy that they can go to. I have never been a showboat kind of guy. I can't really dance so that is out of the question. I just have always felt that this is what I am supposed to do, so why celebrate yourself?"
When his Gopher career is over at the end of the year, the California kid has a chance to be a top 10 receiver in program history. Wolitarsky has 93 career catches (17th in program history) for 1,286 yards (16th in program history). He already has more career catches then Ben Utecht (83) and Aaron Hosack (80) and more career receiving yards than Utecht (1,211) and KJ Maye (1,190). He's also added seven touchdown during his time as a Gopher, which includes three this season.
Wolitarsky is averaging 5.8 catches and 75.8 yards per game this year, as he has 29 receptions for 379 yards. If he continues to produce those numbers then he would finish his career with 133 catches for 1,811 yards. Both of those numbers would make him one of the most productive receivers in school history. If he reached those numbers, he would rank sixth in receptions and ninth in yards, respectively.
To get into the top 10, he needs 341 more receiving yards (would tie him for tenth with Dwayne McMullen with 1,627 yards) and 18 more catches (would tie him for tenth with Jared Ellerson and Aaron Osterman with 111).
"I really missed out my first couple years on just accepting the role and taking it seriously," he said. "Just being a young kid coming into a new place you get carried away with all the stuff that college comes with. The older you get the more you realize how simple it is to get caught up with that and how not worthwhile that is. Figuring that out last year and coming into this year and making it mean something to me has made all the difference. I have just made it a big part of my life. When we lose it hurts badly, but when we win it's totally worth it."
The last game Wolitarsky did not catch a pass in was the 2015 Citrus Bowl against Missouri. He returned to action in the bowl game after missing the final four games of the 2014 regular season with an injury. Since then he has caught at least one pass in 18 straight games. If he catches a pass in Minnesota's final seven regular-season games then he would go 25 consecutive games with a reception. That number would tie him with Omar Douglas (1991-93) for the sixth-longest streak all-time in school history.
