(Here’s a press release from UNLV announcing the season-ending injury to their prolific wide receiver, Ryan Wolfe.)
The school announced Friday that Wolfe (Santa Clarita, CA/Hart HS), who appeared in all 47 of his previous games as a Rebel, will not be able to play his senior-season finale on Nov. 28 vs. San Diego State after fracturing the fifth metatarsal in his left foot while returning punts during Wednesday’s practice. The Rebels have a bye this weekend.
Wolfe is expected to have surgery sometime next week and begin a rehabilitation program that lasts 8-12 weeks. He will be on crutches for the first 4-6 weeks.
“It was a fluke thing, I just rolled my foot a little bit,” said Wolfe, who is currently pursuing his master’s degree in sports education leadership. “It’s unfortunate, but I realize there’s nothing I can do but focus on getting better and back into playing shape as soon as possible.”
The pro prospect officially finished as his school’s and conference’s career leader in receptions with 283, which ranked 12th in NCAA FBS history. His total of 3,495 receiving yards means he will finish fourth in league history -- just 139 yards short of Colorado State’s David Anderson’s Mountain West Conference all-time mark set from 2002-05.
Wolfe is already the only two-time first team all-conference choice in school history and hopes to add a third such honor when the 2009 awards are announced. He leads the MWC with 74 receptions (18th in the nation with 6.73 catches per game) and is second with 760 yards. Wolfe had two of his school-record 12 100-yard receiving games this fall and also served as UNLV’s primary punt returner as well as serving on kickoff coverage teams.
During his Rebel career, the versatile athlete also rushed for 235 net yards on 35 attempts (6.7 YPC) and was credited with 14 total tackles and one pass breakup.