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University of Minnesota Athletics
Gopher Football's Most Interesting Man
10/21/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
Trying to capture Drew Wolitarsky in only 800 words is comparable to defensive backs trying to cover him across the middle of the field.
The senior receiver is beyond his years in wisdom and his outlook on life is thoughtful and refreshing. He may just be the most interesting guy on the whole University of Minnesota Gophers football roster.
This is the same person who explained the butterfly effect to assembled media at a press conference following Minnesota's game against Iowa. He is a published author, the one who his roommates turn to when things in the house break and has aspirations to live in Italy or Switzerland working on a small farm someday. He's also one heck of a football player.
Wolitarsky was unstoppable in his prep career. He is the all-time leading California high school record holder in receptions (281) and yards (5,148) but doesn't give much thought to it.
"It was an exciting thing and I enjoyed doing that but I knew coming to college it wouldn't mean anything so I had my sights set on the next chapter," he said.
He has been successful in this chapter as well. He has 96 career catches (15th in program history) for 1,289 yards (16th in program history). Wolitarsky went into this year not shying away from the fact that he wanted to be the go-to target and has lived up to that with a team- best 32 catches for 400 yards and three touchdowns.
"There is always pressure in business and I wanted that. Deep down I really wanted that," Wolitarsky said. "I said it and I made sure to act on that decision. Young guys need somebody to look to so they can become that leader."
That is not the attitude Wolitarsky has always had.
"I really missed out my first couple years on just accepting the role and taking it seriously. Just being a young kid coming into a new place you get carried away with all the stuff that college comes with," he explained. "Just figuring that out last year and coming into this year making it mean something to me has just made all the difference."
Wolitarsky compares his football development to that of his writing. He went to college with the plan of being a business major but quickly realized it was not for him and got into English.
Through English he started to delve into his skills as a writer. His most accomplished piece so far is a six-part short story about a graveyard worker who can visit the underworld by being buried alive. The story ran last spring in The Wake, Minnesota's student-run magazine.
"It is amazing how much you improve writing-wise when looking back," he said. "It is the same as sports. You think you are great but flash forward five years and you are like, 'Wow, I was awful.'"
Wolitarsky has always been creative. He could entertain himself for hours with simple things around the house when he was younger.
"When I was a kid I used to just take things like two batteries, some duct tape and a piece of a paper and make a little warship out of that. I have always been creative," Wolitarsky said.
He went from making toy warships at a young age to more handy things around the house when he got to college. Eric Amoako transferred to Minnesota this past summer and had no idea what to expect of his new roommate.
"I guess the person who was staying in my room before me was pretty messy. Drew and his girlfriend went into my room and they got me a new bed, plastered some holes in the walls and painted them," Amoako said. "The first day I met him he comes in with a dresser he made and a candle holder he made. He is just a really crafty and responsible guy."
Amoako went on to say that Wolitarsky is also adventurous. They spent much of their summer longboarding all over downtown Minneapolis checking out new places. That craving for adventure is why Wolitarsky had no problem leaving the comfort of his California home for a place he was not familiar with in Minnesota. It is also why he doesn't want to go back to California or stay in Minnesota when his football career is done and he has his degree.
"I want to go and see other things and experience new lives," Wolitarsky said. "I am a strong believer that you shouldn't limit yourself to one thing. There are always stories out there that I want to experience and tell."
