Last Updated on July 11, 2019 3:42 pm
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Wofford College Board of Trustees recently approved the official retirement of the #7 jersey number worn by Eric Breitenstein. A ceremony will be held at halftime of the September 21 football game against Gardner-Webb.
Breitenstein is the school's all-time rushing leader at 5,730 yards, which ranks second all-time in the Southern Conference. He led the team to four NCAA Playoff appearances and two Southern Conference championships.
“What a truly great honor,” said Breitenstein. “It is hard to know what to say. Wofford was my first offer and was loyal to me throughout the recruiting process. That loyalty didn't waver while I was at Wofford, nor has it since I left. I was given countless opportunities to succeed as a part of some of the greatest teams to ever play at Wofford. I played behind offensive lines that were made up of multiple all-conference performers, Jacobs Blocking Trophy winners, a Remington Award winner, and a couple of Wofford Hall of Famers.
“I was an option in the best rushing attack in the country, and luckily for me, it was a triple option where I was frequently the lesser of three evils. I was also the option that would let a defense bleed slowly. And so defenses allowed it and I, in turn, kept getting opportunities! Apparently if you do that for four years (and some change), it eventually adds up to some rather large numbers. I am so grateful to have had the chance to play at Wofford College, for Mike Ayers and his coaching staff, and with all of my teammates. We had a couple of incredible runs and this honor will stand as a testament to the success we all achieved.”
“Retiring a jersey means that the person who wore it was so extraordinary on the field that we never expect to see his like again,” said Wofford College Director of Athletics Richard Johnson. “Eric Breitenstein was so much fun to watch. Everyone in the stadium – including the opponent – knew he would be getting the ball and he would still gain ten yards.”
Breitenstein, from Valle Crucis, North Carolina, was named Southern Conference Offensive Player of the Year in 2011 and 2012. He was just the fourth player in conference history to earn the honor in back-to-back seasons. A three-time All-American, he holds five Wofford rushing records, two SoCon rushing records and one NCAA rushing record. Following his senior season, he finished third in the voting for the Walter Payton Award. He led the Southern Conference in rushing for the second straight season with 2,035 yards, a school record and the second most in conference history. He had 19 rushing touchdowns to lead the conference and was second in scoring with 114 points.
During his junior year, his 1,474 rushing yards were the most in the conference and rank third in school history. In 2009, he started the first two games of the season with 187 yards and three touchdowns before a knee injury ended his season. He returned in 2010 with 13 starts and 1,639 yards, which was a school record as he earned All-America honors. As a freshman in 2008, played in 10 games with two starts, rushing for 395 yards and two touchdowns and was named the team's freshman of the year.
He graduated in December of 2012 with a degree in environmental studies. He and his wife, Reagan, currently reside in Bloomington, Indiana, with their daughter Lily.
Following Breitenstein's graduation, the #7 jersey was worn for four seasons by Lorenzo Long. Long ended his career with 3,479 career yards, which is ranked fifth in school history. The jersey was last worn in the 2016 season.
Breitenstein becomes just the third football student-athlete at Wofford to have a jersey retired. The #1 jersey of Shawn Graves was retired on November 14, 1992, the final home game of his career. The #51 jersey of Jerry Richardson was retired on October 29, 2011.
Career Recap
Wofford Records
First in Career Rushing Yards with 5730
First in Single Season Rushing Yards with 2035
First in career 100-yard rushing games with 32
First in career carries with 912
First with 156.5 rushing yards per game in 2012
Second with 65 career rushing touchdowns
Southern Conference Records
First with 12 100-yard rushing games in a season
First with 321 rushing yards in a single game
Second with 5,730 career rushing yards
Second with 2,035 single season rushing yards
Second with 912 career carries
Third with 32 career 100-yard rushing games
Third with 65 career rushing touchdowns
NCAA Records
Most 100-yard rushing games in a season (12)
Most Consecutive 100-yard games in a season (11)
2012 Honors
SoCon Offensive Player of the Year (Coaches)
SoCon Offensive Player of the Year (Media)
All-SoCon First Team (coaches and media)
Sports Network All-America (first team)
Associated Press All-America (first team)
Walter Payton Award Finalist (Third)
2011 Honors
SoCon Offensive Player of the Year (Coaches)
SoCon Offensive Player of the Year (Media)
All-SoCon First Team (coaches and media)
Walter Payton Award Finalist (14th)
Associated Press All-America (First Team)
Sports Network All-America (First Team)
Phil Steele All-American (First Team)
2010 Honors
All-SoCon First Team (Coaches and Media)
Associated Press All-America Second Team
The Sports Network All-America First Team
Phil Steele FCS All-America First Team
