RB Chris "Beanie" Wells (All B1G, All-American)

[wadc45]

I love the fact that Beanie was the one guy you saw all year long who never had any flair on. That's my style...put your pads on and go play. No gloves, tape, wristbands, headbands, skull caps, etc.

 

[wadc45]

If you want further proof that rankings mean nothing, ESPN just came out with their updated top 150 and Beanie, already underrated at #26 in the country, was dropped to #46. If that doesn't make you nauseous...

 

[Smooth Olaf]

ESpin thinks there are 45 better recruits? Wow.

 

[Buckin' A]

ESPN also thinks they are anything more than a daytime soap opera.

 

[bucksfan79]

If you want further proof that rankings mean nothing, ESPN just came out with their updated top 150 and Beanie, already underrated at #26 in the country, was dropped to #46. If that doesn't make you nauseous...

In the same list, Mitch Mustain is ranked #5. Was I the only one who watched this kid throw passes EVERYWHERE but to his receivers in the AA game? And Wells, the game's MVP, is ranked more than 40 positions lower? Somebody at E$PN's recruiting HQ must be smoking some serious crack.

 

[JohnnyCockfight]

In the same list, Mitch Mustain is ranked #5. Was I the only one who watched this kid throw passes EVERYWHERE but to his receivers in the AA game? And Wells, the game's MVP, is ranked more than 40 positions lower? Somebody at E$PN's recruiting HQ must be smoking some serious crack.

I don't think this is necessarily a bad thing. Maybe Wells will take their evaluation as disrespect, and never grant ESPN an interview during his illustrious collegiate career.

We all know how good he is, and that's all that really matters.

 

[osugrad21]

Toledo Blade

1/9

Buckeyes gaining another sensation in Wells
<center></center>
COLUMBUS - Chris Wells is a rarity.

He is a 6-foot-2, 230-pound tailback with sprinter's speed.
He has been clocked at 4.48 in the 40-yard dash.
Wells, who is expected to sign a binding letter of intent with Ohio State next month, can run over you, or he can dart around you.
Most recruiting services rate Wells, from Akron's Garfield High School, the No. 1 player in the Buckeye State and the No. 1 running back in the nation.
Scout.com is even higher on Wells, ranking him the country's No. 1 prospect overall.
Yeah, he's that good.
"He's better than everybody else in the country," said Bob Lichtenfels, a recruiting analyst for Scout.com. "He really stands out in a crowd. He looks like an NFL running back right now as a senior in high school."
Duane Long, the recruiting editor for Bucknuts.com and editor/publisher of Ohio High magazine, said he has never seen a runner as big as Wells have so much power and speed.
"He's as complete a back as I've seen in Ohio in my 25 years," Long said. "He's every bit as good as Maurice Clarett, and he's right up there on a par with Robert Smith.
"Chris Wells is a slashing type of runner, more so than a power back.
He's hard to bring down. He will run you over if he gets a chance, but he's more into dipping and dodging and shaking and baking."
Wells, who played in yesterday's U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio, obviously is a special talent.
He is a Parade first-team All-American, and a USA Today first-team pick.
In 10 regular-season games this year, Wells was pretty much untouchable and unstoppable.
Despite playing for a very mediocre 5-5 team, he rushed for 2,134 yards and 27 touchdowns on 223 carries as a senior. He averaged 9.6 yards per carry.
For his career, Wells piled up 5,232 yards and 61 touchdowns. He also caught 37 passes for 408 yards and three scores.
Wells plans to graduate early from high school and enroll at Ohio State in time for spring drills, just like Clarett did four years ago.
Wells won't turn 18 until mid-August, just before the start of the Buckeyes' regular season.
Lichtenfels said he would be surprised if Wells - who surprised everyone by giving his oral commitment to Ohio State last February despite having scholarship offers from Michigan and Oklahoma - doesn't challenge Antonio Pittman, from Akron Buchtel, for playing time this fall.
"I don't want to take anything away from Pittman - he had a good season, better than most figured he would - but I think Chris is a great talent who is going to get a chance to play some right away," Lichtenfels said.
"I think he's going to make Pittman better, and I think he's going to make him bust his tail to keep his job."
Now that's a mouthful.
Pittman finished the season on a very strong note.
His 60-yard touchdown run in the final two minutes of the Fiesta Bowl sealed Ohio State's 34-20 victory over Notre Dame last Monday.
Pittman finished with 136 yards, giving him 1,331 for the season.
That is the 10th-best total in school history, and the second-best by a sophomore behind Archie Griffin's 1,577 yards in 1973.
Before we get too carried away with Wells, let's not forget that recruiting is hardly an exact science.
There are as many busts in each class as can't-miss prospects.
For instance, Clarett, linebacker Mike D'Andrea and quarterback Justin Zwick were considered the elite of Ohio State's 2002 recruiting class.
Clarett was a one-year wonder, D'Andrea has been injured more than he has been on the field and Zwick has rarely played since losing the starting job to Troy Smith last season.
For now, Wells is by far considered the brightest star in Ohio State's 2006 class.
"Honestly, Chris Wells is Maurice Clarett without the baggage," Long said.
That alone should make Wells a huge hit.

 

[ashlandbuck]

Does he know the playbook? How quickly will he pick up his blocking assignments on passing downs?

Being a great college tailback requires far more than just an ability to tote the rock.

Chris is going to be a stud, but he still has a lot to learn before he is an asset for the Buckeyes on every play.

You have to be kidding, right?
Sometimes you guys act as if Blocking assignments are right up there with molecular genetics. If MoC can understand his role and play as quickly as he did, I have no doubt that Wells will be fine.

 

[RugbyBuck]

Being there for spring practice and conditioning will be huge. Northern Illinios' defenders better be putting in some extra time in the weight room. If I was one of their safeties, I think I'd be planning to pull a hamstring on the Wednesday before the game.

 

[jwinslow]

You have to be kidding, right?
Sometimes you guys act as if Blocking assignments are right up there with molecular genetics. If MoC can understand his role and play as quickly as he did, I have no doubt that Wells will be fine.

no he's not kidding. I think Wells should do fine, but it's not a given that he can assimilate the entire playbook and execute it well immediately, especially not when Pittman will have be starting his third spring in the system.

 

[crazybuckfan40]

You have to be kidding, right?
Sometimes you guys act as if Blocking assignments are right up there with molecular genetics. If MoC can understand his role and play as quickly as he did, I have no doubt that Wells will be fine.

Him coming in the spring is going to help dramatically b/c it is not easy for freshmen to pick up the blocking scheme, you have to know which guy is yours and when to switch and what not. Blocking schemes on pass protection are not easy at all, or at least not as easy as they may seem.

 

[AKAK]

Him coming in the spring is going to help dramatically b/c it is not easy for freshmen to pick up the blocking scheme, you have to know which guy is yours and when to switch and what not. Blocking schemes on pass protection are not easy at all, or at least not as easy as they may seem.

Mmm... yeah, thanks for the update. btw, Ashland's no newbie.

 

[Muck]

You have to be kidding, right?
Sometimes you guys act as if Blocking assignments are right up there with molecular genetics. If MoC can understand his role and play as quickly as he did, I have no doubt that Wells will be fine.

You ever see a Div1A playbook?

Reecie was many things, but he wasn't stupid.

Your lack of doubts nonwithstanding, an inability to learn their assignments when not carrying the ball has kept more than a few RBs off the field at Ohio State.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

You ever see a Div1A playbook?

Reecie was many things, but he wasn't stupid.

Your lack of doubts nonwithstanding, an inability to learn their assignments when not carrying the ball has kept more than a few RBs off the field at Ohio State.

Bingo. IIRC, one of Haw's early problems was learning the playbook. Now, no one is saying that Wells will struggle with it, but while the Ohio State playbook isn't exactly molecular genetics, it isn't a coloring book, either.

 

[RB07OSU]

I hope he wears the same type of helmet he wore in the AA bowl. I agree that they look terrible. I cant wait to have Beanie in S&G

Those would be the Revolution helmets. They aren't the greatest looking but they are more comfortable and allow more air to come through on a hot day. I wore a Revolution this year and I agree they aren't lookers but they are comfortable.