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

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DDN

'Beanie' Wells giving up final year of eligibility


By the Associated Press

Thursday, January 08, 2009

COLUMBUS ? Ohio State tailback Chris "Beanie" Wells is giving up his final year of eligibility to enter the NFL draft.
Wells, one of seven Ohio State juniors who were considering making the early jump, issued a statement Thursday saying the move is in the best interest of his family.
"I want to thank my teammates, my coaches, my teachers and the academic advisors for all they have done, and I definitely want to thank the Buckeye fans for all their support," Wells said. "Ohio State has become like a family to me, and it will always be that way."
Wells fought nagging injuries much of his career at Ohio State. He was considered a Heisman Trophy candidate before missing three full games this past season with a right foot injury, but still managed to run for 1,197 yards.
He saw limited action in the second half of Monday's Fiesta Bowl due to symptoms of a concussion, finishing with 106 yards on 16 carries in the Buckeyes' 24-21 loss to Texas.
In three seasons at Ohio State, Wells ran for 3,382 yards, fourth best in school history.
He's projected to be one of the first running backs selected in the draft.
"Ohio State football will miss Beanie's big runs," coach Jim Tressel said, "but we will also miss his big smile."
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DDN

Wells should make some NFL team wince

By Marc Pendleton
Staff Writer

Friday, January 09, 2009
It's never too late ? or early ? to pile on the Buckeyes:
? Chris "Beanie" Wells, you were everything as billed. And more, unfortunately. There's never been a more elusive, powerful and maddeningly brittle OSU running back.
There have been precedents: Keith Byars was mostly gimp on the sidelines his entire final season at OSU. Anthony Munoz missed his entire senior regular season at Southern California while recovering from knee surgery. Both had long Sunday careers.
Still, strange how coach Jim Tressell all but ordered Wells to leave the program.
? I'd like to write how Wells' departure will mean more playing time for the pride of Piqua, Brandon Saine. Wishful thinking.
His is a familiar story: Instant impact, then slow fade. We all know that player, in all sports at all levels. Here's hoping he's the Buckeyes' comeback player of the year next season.
? Watched in awe at the two-headed Terrelle Pryor-Todd Boeckman set. It was like an OSU mulligan: Something's not quite right, so let's try this.
It took six off weeks to figure that out? If ever you wanted to know the difference between major college coaches and NFL minds, that was it. I've seen high school teams make grander halftime adjustments.
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CPD
OSU won't be the same with Wells bound for NFL

by Doug Lesmerises Thursday January 08, 2009, 3:51 PM


UPDATED: 10:52 p.m.
large_wellsmf.jpg
Marvin Fong/The Plain DealerOften criticized because of his frequent injuries, Chris "Beanie" Wells heads to the NFL Draft with running skills seldom seen at the college level.


COLUMBUS -- Ohio State running back Chris "Beanie" Wells leaves Ohio State as the Buckeyes' fourth-leading rusher, with two of the 10 greatest single-game rushing efforts in OSU history. He's a player, like receiver Ted Ginn Jr., who should be appreciated even more when he's gone, when "the next Wells" doesn't perform quite the way that Beanie did. But his announcement issued through Ohio State on Thursday that he's giving up his final year of eligibility to declare for the NFL Draft, "in the best interest of his family," which includes 11 brothers and sisters, also clears the way for the next evolution of the Ohio State offense.
Jim Tressel adapts his plan to his personnel, and as long as that personnel included the best combination of power and speed of any back in the country, the Buckeyes had to maintain enough of the I-formation to take advantage of it.

Here's what tight end Rory Nicol, the most logical and honest observer of the offense among the players, said before the Fiesta Bowl loss to Texas.
"I don't think we're the zone stretch type of offense that at times we thought maybe we could be. With a guy like Chris, it's better to keep it up the middle, in between the tackles, which is what he likes to do."
While breaking in a freshman quarterback, that made sense. But next season, this will be Terrelle Pryor's offense. If he isn't running a version of the spread where the zone read and the option are the primary run plays, then he isn't being used correctly. The Buckeyes may never abandon the I, but without Wells, they don't have to feature it as much.
Dan Herron, who will be a sophomore next season, should be the primary back, at least to begin with, and incoming freshmen Jamaal Berry and Carlos Hyde should also join the mix. Herron, who gained 439 yards and scored six touchdowns this season, likes to run between the tackles, too. But he's not Wells.

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CPD

Ohio State football: Beanie Wells "kind of scared" to leave OSU

by Doug Lesmerises Friday January 09, 2009, 5:00 AM


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The Plain DealerBeanie Wells
"My head is feeling a lot better," Beanie Wells said Thursday night after ending his Fiesta Bowl with a concussion Monday, and so it was with a clear head that Ohio State's junior running back declared for the NFL Draft.
Not that it was easy. The Buckeyes who turned down the NFL last season - James Laurinaitis, Malcolm Jenkins and others - often said they weren't ready to make football their job yet.
Wells is going to work for his family, including his 10 brothers and sisters, but he's doing so with some trepidation.
"I was definitely on the fence when I made the decision and I still am," Wells said from his home in Akron on Thursday night. "I guess you could say I'm kind of scared to make that next step, because the past three years has been the same routine for me and breaking that routine is a little scary for anybody."
Wells said he made the decision after speaking with his parents and Ohio State coach Jim Tressel. He said he'll rely on Tressel for advice on what comes next - including how and where he should train for the NFL Combine and Ohio State's pro day, and how he should go about choosing an agent, which he said he has not done yet.

Wells said he heard that he should go in the top 15 or top 10 of the draft, which fits with what scouts and draft analysts have said in recent interviews.
Running Darren McFadden, chosen No. 4 by Oakland in last year's draft, received $26 million in guaranteed money. Running back Jonathan Stewart, chosen No. 13 by Carolina, received $10.7 million in guaranteed money.
That would do a lot for Wells' 10 siblings, including five still in school.

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I really gotta give it to him for putting his family first. Maybe in his heart he would like to stay, but he knows this would help his family out greatly. He's never been selfish. First, he gave the Buckeyes everything he could and now its his family. Gotta love this kid. I hope he gets millions. He deserves it.
 
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What do you say...

What do you say to a guy like BW other than 'thanks' and 'best of luck.' I'm pretty sure that anything else that I could say would only take away from how much we've all enjoyed watching this young man in S&G over the years.

So, Mr Chris Beanie Wells... Thank you and I wish you the best at the next level.

:oh:
 
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I'm seeing some draft projections that have Beanie ending up in Cincinnati... I would hate it for him, but love it for the organization... He won't be a back that will fade after a year or two, and that's what the Bengals could use.

It'll also be the first authentic (NFL) jersey I purchase, if he is drafted by the Bengals.
 
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Re: Dispatch article (above) - He's a player, like receiver Ted Ginn Jr., who should be appreciated even more when he's gone, when "the next Wells" doesn't perform quite the way that Beanie did.

Very true about Ted Ginn Jr, i.e. he was missed even more as the next season wore on as his replacements weren't nearly as good.

Hopefully someone steps up and performs up to Beanie's standards (or even better) next year. Even if they do Beanie will still be missed.

:osu:
 
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