Bears sign third-round draft choice

Chicago -- The Chicago Bears have signed third-round draft pick Garrett Wolfe to a four-year contract.

The 5-foot-7 inch, 177-pound running back out of Northern Illinois was the 93rd overall selection in this year's draft.

He was a three-year letter winner at NIU and ended his college career 11th all-time in NCAA Division I-A history with a school-record 5,164 rushing yards.

"It's a great opportunity," Wolfe said. "I'm excited about getting a feel for what's going on and going to training camp, I'll be ahead of the learning curve."

The Chicago Sun-Times reported Wednesday that Wolfe showed well in rookie mini-camp and the Bears plan to use him as a back-up to projected starter Cedric Benson.

Last season's starting running back, Thomas Jones, was traded to the New York Jets earlier this off-season.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International.