no surprise here:
The Ohio State football team got some practice yesterday for what it likely will have to do in 2009: go on without Chris "Beanie" Wells.
The junior running back was supposed to take part in media day as the Buckeyes prepare to face Texas in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 5.
Wells, though, either was accompanying one of his brothers to a doctor or simply forgot about the interviews -- or possibly both, according to a team spokesman.
It seemed fitting, considering that on Dec. 7, coach Jim Tressel basically shoved Wells toward the NFL. Asked about Wells having a tough decision to make, Tressel said, "If it were me, it wouldn't be tough," and made it sound like a no-brainer for his star ball-carrier.
That theme continued yesterday, when Tressel said that six underclassmen had filed paperwork with the NFL to get a report of their likely draft status.
The list: receiver Brian Hartline, safeties Kurt Coleman and Anderson Russell, tight end Jake Ballard, guard Jim Cordle and cornerback Donald Washington.
And Wells?
"Beanie didn't need to fill out the paperwork," Tressel said. "I told him to save the transcript, save the paper."
He said he believes Wells should be a top-five pick, and he's not far off, according to a survey of draft ratings. Wells, a 6-foot-1, 235-pound bruiser with speed, is rated as high as the No. 4 pick, with most mock drafts placing him in the No. 7 to 17 range.
One site compared Wells to former Auburn and NFL star Bo Jackson.
His teammates agreed with Tressel's assessment.
"You understand how many injuries Beanie has gone through," linebacker James Laurinaitis said, "and not just the stuff that's kept him out, like the toe (he missed three games this season), but just the sheer beating of carrying it 30 times a game in the Big Ten.
"I think Coach is saying if you have a chance to be a first-round guy, and you've already taken this beating. as a running back, their careers are shortened the most because of the hits they take."
Despite missing those three games, Wells rushed for 1,091 yards and eight touchdowns this season, averaging 5.7 yards per carry. He is fourth on OSU's career rushing list with 3,276 yards and has scored 30 touchdowns.
"Oh yeah, he's NFL-ready," tight end Rory Nicol said. "To me, he's as big as any back there is, and I don't know if people realize how fast he is."
Nicol, though, said, "I know there's a part of Beanie that's scared to leave Ohio State, and that will play into his (decision). Beanie is a kid -- he acts like a kid, he smiles and he brings joy to every-body's day. I love being around him."
Of the underclassmen who filed with the NFL, only Coleman and Russell were available yesterday, and both sounded as if it were simply an informational move rather than something they were seriously considering.
"I filled it out just to see where I stood amongst everyone else," Coleman said, "but really, unless it came back, 'first round, first pick,' I may think about it."
Tressel said Wells and fullback Brandon Smith were disciplined with some extra conditioning drills Monday because they skipped a class a few weeks ago to head to Cleveland for a television interview about the, "Thank You God, I Am Grateful," bracelets that Smith's mother and a co-worker designed.
"It was a teachable moment," Tressel said.
It probably was one of his last such moments with Wells.
kgordon@dispatch.com http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/spo...7H.html?sid=101
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