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RB Maurice Wells (Official Thread)

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Oneshot said:
THAT is HOT! I'm so excited for next year... Hopefully this highschool phenom isn't the next Flydell.
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He won't be, I still think Flydell would have been a good second-rate back had they not bulked him up too much. He was a lot better in 02 & 03.
 
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scout.com$

7/8/05

Headline: Quick Baptism

By Gary Housteau

While the Ohio State football team was conducting their annual spring game in April, future Buckeye Maurice Wells of Jacksonville (Fla.) Sandalwood High School was with members of his senior class at an all-day/all-night senior day event at an amusement park.

"I was out of town the whole time that day but I had heard the game went good. I was thinking about it a lot on the 23rd (of April)," Wells said. "I was thinking that if I would have graduated early that I could have been up there with the guys, playing around with them. I definitely would have loved to have been up there just to kind of get my feet wet and be there with the guys, and prove to myself that I can compete on the next level and be kind of good at it.

“But I’m entitled to enjoy my senior year and all good things come in time. So I’ll wait until the summer to get with it."

Despite his physical absence from being so many miles away, Wells has been kept abreast on a regular basis of what exactly is going on in Buckeye country.

"I definitely feel like I’m a part of the team. I definitely feel like I’m a Buckeye," Wells said. "I get all of the team mail and I get calls from the coaches and I talk to some of the players and stuff. Yeah, being down here in Florida is hard, but I definitely do feel like I am a Buckeye and I am a part of the team."

And he’s been doing everything that he possibly can, both physically and mentally, to prepare for when he finally does become a Buckeye.

"I’m working out hard every day with one of my teammates that has a scholarship to Murray State and I’m putting on some weight," said Wells from his home in Florida. "I’m actually up to 191 (pounds) now and my quickness and speed are still there. So we’re still down here working hard trying to get ready for the next level."

Wells certainly knows that the expectations for him will be high when he eventually gets to campus and that’s a major motivating force for him.

"The coaches, from what they tell me, expect a lot from me, and I don’t want to be a disappointment to them or anybody," he said. "So I am kind of anxious to get up there and get it all started."

As it stands now, Wells will report to summer camp at Ohio State as the third tailback behind sophomore Antonio Pittman and redshirt freshman Erik Haw. Wells, who packs a lot of speed and power into his 5-10 frame, is ready to shake up the depth chart at the running back spot.

"I can run a 4.3 (second)-40 still. I can bet on that," Wells said. "I can bench about 340 and I can squat at least 500 pounds. But I’m just trying to get bigger, stronger and faster so that I’ll be ready to compete for playing time when I get up there."

Wells might actually be the fastest of the three running backs but he’s not one to shy away from contact by any means.

"As soon as I get the ball I’m going 100 miles an hour downhill, so they say that I have good vertical quickness." Wells said. "My speed and my vision, they say that I make all the right cuts, help me to score from anywhere on the field. When I hit the hole, it doesn’t matter if anybody has an angle on me or not, I’ll beat them to the corner and I can take it the distance.

"I can slam it in there and I can get around the outside. I have all aspects of my game down pat. I kind of do what’s necessary. I make the right cuts but I don’t juke too much. I’m not a finesse guy; I can lower my shoulder, too, to get the extra yard. I feel that I’m really a complete package, a true running back. I’ve got moves, I can make you miss and I can run you over. I can do it all."

Wells played some as a freshman on offense at wingback and then he was moved to defense when a new coach came in for his sophomore year. About halfway through his sophomore season, he was moved back to offense and played running back where he recorded close to 1,000 yards in just five games. Wells then had his breakout year in his junior campaign. He led the state of Florida in rushing with 3,076 yards and scored 31 touchdowns. Wells was named the Florida Class 6A player of the year and was regarded as one of the nation’s top running backs that year.

"In my junior year I was actually the number one running back in the nation for a minute but the rankings changed," Wells said. "But I was the number one back in Florida and the number one player in Florida that year."

The following season, Wells was bit by the injury bug but still managed to amass 1,900 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns in just nine games.

"Overall I think that I had a pretty productive career at Sandalwood," said Wells who is completely healed from a nagging hip-pointer that cost him two full games during the middle of his senior season. "My coach, Adam Geis, did a good job of putting me in the right position and calling the right plays to get me to where I’m at right now."

And now he comes to Ohio State highly recommended by the likes of Bill Conley, OSU’s former recruiting coordinator, and some national recruitniks who have seen him play in high school.

"Maurice Wells has unbelievable quickness and athletic talent," Conley said. "He’s an exceptional talent that will play early for the Buckeyes. He has the speed, quickness and versatility to play several positions and could be a remarkable return specialist. He has great big-play potential."

OSU running backs coach Dick Tressel is also excited to have Wells in the fold.

"He's explosive and he's tough," Dick Tressel said. "To get that many yards, you've got to be willing to get smacked lots of times. He is a durable guy who has had a lot of carries.

"He was probably one of the first guys we had with a video evaluation where we said, ‘That guy is a great player. We have got to offer that guy.’ To get him to sign with Ohio State, that is really special.”

Of course, Wells knows that no matter how highly touted he comes to Ohio State, he still has to get the job done in practice first in order to earn his opportunities for playing time on game days, be it as a starter or a backup.

"I’m just going to go in there and play my hardest and compete and try to win the starting spot," Wells said. "If the coaches feel that I’m the best back that’s available then I’m going to start. To me, it’s as simple as that. But I’m going to come in and work hard, and if I don’t start right off the bat, then I think I’ll eventually get my time to shine and get my playing time."
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It's tough deciphering his attitude thru a writeup... from the interactions he had with a few of my friends (as in BPers and others) at the North/South game he sounds like a humble guy (which gels with what I had heard before hand)...

You shouldn't come to OSU if you aren't confident... I think he could be a special player if he's able to handle the hits. From the sounds of his muscle growth, he might be able to help better this year than we thought. It will be awesome to see him get some carries later in the game against Miami, assuming we get a 2 score lead on them.
 
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OK I gata pretty cool theory that I want you guys to check out...

Do you guys think with Chris Wells and Mo Wells that it could kind of be like Reggie Bush/Lyndel White? What I mean is Mo Wells was listed by many to be the quickest back they've seen come out of high school, and we all know how Wells can bull up the middle. Do you guys think we'll use Mo Wells like Reggie Bush and move him to reciever and do all sorts of unique stuff with him? I honestly think we need to get Wells on the field with that sort of speed.

Can you Imagine a back field next year on 3rd downs with Troy Smith at QB, Wells at Running back, and then Holmes/Ginn/Gonzo/Hall at reciever? talk about a night mare. I like how this kid can be differently used.

I'll second the person who said "can't wait to see him on the field"
 
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No offense to Maurice, but let's see how Pittman and Haw do this season, too. Keep in mind Pittman played well last year and Haw is 20+ pounds heavier than Wells with the same, or faster, speed. If Maurice is good enough to beat those two out of the starting job, we're going to be very happy.
 
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Yeah I agree Mili I'm gett'n ahead of myself! lol Pittman/Haw will have first cracks at it and if Wells is better then he'll play! However I do think that Wells is probably the quickest of all three backs. Haw might be able to keep up in straight ahead speed same for Pittman but man them short kids can cut alot quicker than the bigger/taller running backs what do you think mili? How would you most like to see Maurice used this year?
 
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A little off topic, but regarding that fantasy year in a few years...

What if Santonio and Smith and Zwick and our soon-to-be breakout Juniors this year stay for their senior year, ala the 2002 team? We could be looking straight at another NC team. Beautiful.
 
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well I believe both Smith/Zwick will have no business leaving after this year because they just havne't shown enough to get drafted very high. Now I could see Santonio leaving because this upcoming years recievers aren't very strong so he could go pretty high. Regardless the 06' offense will be absolutly LOADED with talent.


Honestly though I like the thought of getting Mo Wells on some screen passes and getting him on some draws. I think his quickness seperates him from other players on the defensive side of the ball. Because I've seen him play and anyone trying to bring him down in the open field will have a very hard time.
 
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Misanthrope said:
Must be the result of munchies after smoking some herb. :wink:
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I think he lost the munchie weight worrying about whether or not he was going to get bounced from the team.



bukIpower said:
I do think that Wells is probably the quickest of all three backs. Haw might be able to keep up in straight ahead speed same for Pittman but man them short kids can cut alot quicker than the bigger/taller running backs what do you think mili? How would you most like to see Maurice used this year?
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You may be right about Wells being quicker (more explosive) than Haw rather than straight out faster. I haven't seen him play personally, so I can't vouch for either other than their 40 times. As far as how I would want Wells used, I'll defer that the to coaching staff...as long as the best RB gets the bulk of the carries, regardless of who that is, I'm happy.
 
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