Ohio State's Wells will play if he gets through practice OK, Tressel says

   COLUMBUS - Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel expects tailback Chris (Beanie) Wells to play against No. 1 Southern California on Saturday night, but wants to see how he reacts to practicing on Tuesday and Wednesday before making a final decision.

   "I thought Beanie ran well yesterday, in fact he probably ran better than I thought he might," Tressel said at his weekly press conference on Tuesday.

   "I think the big thing will be Tuesday and Wednesday's work and will that create soreness," he said.

   Ohio State's doctors, trainers and strength coaches have put Wells through a variety of treatments, including running, riding a stationary bicycle and running on an underwater treadmill.

   "Anything we can do, we're doing," Tressel said.  "They're going to let him do a lot of football things without any people around him (Tuesday) and then tomorrow be actually in the fray."

   Wells, who ran for 1,609 yards last season, has been telling Tressel he is ready to go.

   "He said to Coach Bollman (offensive coordinator Jim Bollman) and me walking into the meeting room on Monday, ‘I'm ready to carry 45 times on Saturday.' "