Wells enters season with no doubts, no injuries

COLUMBUS - It shouldn't be a surprise that Ohio State tailback Chris Wells took on the question of being a Heisman Trophy candidate the same way he meets would-be tacklers.

He went right at the question head on, at full force and moved on.

When he was asked if he would be comfortable with a Heisman campaign on his behalf, he smiled and said, "I guess I would have no choice but to be comfortable with it.

"If it comes to that, it would be great," the 6-foot, 1-inch, 237-pound junior said. "I haven't thought about a Heisman campaign, but I have thought about the Heisman Trophy."

After he rushed for 1,609 yards last season, Wells has some people predicting he can beat out Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, who won the Heisman as a sophomore last year, this season.

Ohio State's own two-time Heisman winner Archie Griffin - probably not the most impartial judge in this case - thinks he can do it. Earlier this summer, Griffin said Wells reminded him of Cleveland Browns legend Jim Brown, a comparison first made by OSU running backs coach Dick Tressel.

As good as Wells was last season, he should be better this fall. He played all of last season with a wrist injury that required offseason surgery and a tender ankle.

He finished last season strong with 222 yards on 39 carries against Michigan and 146 yards against LSU in the BCS national championship game. His two longest runs of the year came in those games - a 65-yard touchdown run against LSU and a 62-yarder for a score at Michigan.

The wrist hurt so much it felt "like it was going to fall off," Wells said. "It got really bad the Illinois game. That was the worst it ever felt."

But that is all behind him and he says the difference is immense. "Oh man, it's a lot different. Just to play football the way I like to play football is the main thing.

"I couldn't be as physical as I wanted to be all the time. I did it sometimes but I wasn't able to do it all the time."

Wells was held out of last Saturday's jersey scrimmage but that was just a precaution. There was no need to expose him to unnecessary contact.

"I'm just ready to roll," Wells said.

With a year of experience and the injuries behind, Wells says he has more confidence than he had last season.

"I wouldn't say I'm different, I'm just different confidence-wise."