Cold weather arrives
2008 World AIDS Day
Canine Christmas
Get latest headlines via RSS feeds
NewsVine
Del.icio.us
Digg
Facebook
Furl
Reddit
StumbleuponGriffin: 2,000 within Wells' reach
The two-time Heisman Trophy winner calls OSU tailback the 'closest thing to Jim Brown.'
> Do you think 2,000 yards is within Wells' reach?
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
COLUMBUS — Archie Griffin knows how this comparison sounds. When college football's only two-time Heisman Trophy winner talks about running backs, however, he talks it from a throne. So listen.
"People probably think I'm crazy when I say it, but Chris Wells is the closest thing to Jim Brown that I've ever seen," Griffin said on a teleconference Tuesday, July 29. "That says a whole lot, I know, but I really believe it."
So the Buckeyes' junior 237-pound tailback from Akron runs like the greatest back of all time. Not a shock — OSU running backs coach Dick Tressel first dropped the Brown comparison when Wells hit campus, and Heisman winner Eddie George and OSU head coach Jim Tressel have offered the same analysis since.
It's not a bad Heisman campaign, though.
Tuesday's call was set up in part for Florida writers to chat up Griffin about Florida junior quarterback Tim Tebow, who has the chance to join Griffin in a two-man, two-Heisman club this season. Wells might have the best chance to stop him.
"I want the person who's deserving of winning the Heisman Trophy to win the Heisman Trophy," Griffin said. "I certainly want Beanie to have a great season because he's here at Ohio State and I know him extremely well, but I also want to make sure that he has the season that's deserving of winning it if he's going to win it. And the same thing with Tebow."
Griffin agreed with the notion Wells has a shot at the 15th 2,000-yard season in NCAA history, which would break George's OSU record of 1,927 yards. If Wells really runs like Brown, Tebow may be in trouble.
"Mainly it's his speed, his strength and the way that he brushes people off of him," Griffin said. "People can hit him and just fall off of him.
"I think it's awesome," Griffin said of the stiff arm Wells enjoys applying to prospective tacklers. "It's almost comical when you watch it because it seems like people try to get to him and he just brushes them off of him with that stiff arm. That's one of the reasons I say he really reminds me of Jim Brown."
Comments
By Won't Happen
August 1, 2008 2:26 PM | Link to this
I’m not an Ohio State fan, but I think Wells is a great back. 2,000 yards won’t happen because the Buckeye offense will be too diverse, and because Wells won’t be in during scrub time.
To the fan who said OSU is the most hated because of envy, you are wrong. Many dislike Ohio State because a good portion of the fans are barely evolved. For every great OSU fan, there are handfuls who are idiots. It’s too bad the team has to be hated because of the fanbase—the team has most people’s respect.
By GHOST
July 31, 2008 10:38 AM | Link to this
Beanie is an absolute monster. You say he has problems with nicknack injuries but he still gained over 1600 yards with a broken bone in his hand and a sprained ankle. Now that both of those injuries are taken care of, dudes better watch out. 6’1” 237 and runs a 4.4… I dont’t think people are ready for what he is about to do this year. Without a doubt the best running back in the country.
By GHOST
July 31, 2008 10:37 AM | Link to this
Beanie is an absolute monster. You say he has problems with nicknack injuries but he still gained over 1600 yards with a broken bone in his hand and a sprained ankle. Now that both of those injuries are taken care of, dudes better watch out. 6’1” 237 and runs a 4.4… I dont’t think people are ready for what he is about to do this year. Without a doubt the best running back in the country.
By Lets Go Bucks!!
July 30, 2008 5:56 PM | Link to this
I love that my team is the most hated in CFB. It shows the pathetic level of envy that all other fans have for wanting to be Ohio State. Then was then, now is NOW. Buckeye pride never dies, LETS GO BUCKS!!!!
By beanie weanie
July 30, 2008 3:59 PM | Link to this
Beanie looks like a stud no doubt and like someone else said with the cupcakes osu plays evreyyear he should rack up the yards. Osu really doesn’t have an excuse to not win the championship bowl series but they will find a way to get blown out should they play and sec team,,,tressel is lucky he doesn’t coach south of the ohio river.
By SECOWNSOSU
July 30, 2008 3:09 PM | Link to this
1500 maybe but 2000 nope…. beanie also always has nicknack injuries so between that and Tress putting Saine in it’s not going to happen
By Bucks Fan
July 30, 2008 1:58 PM | Link to this
Bill…AKA…Carson Palmer.
By kyle
July 30, 2008 12:28 PM | Link to this
bill your a queer
By Corbin
July 30, 2008 11:36 AM | Link to this
Absolutely - especially with some of the soft teams that OSU plays this year. If he is allowed to play the entire game against some of these teams, he could easily rack up 200+, even 300 yards per game. I hope Wells does win it. After last year, I’m already tired of all the Tebow hype.
By Bill
July 30, 2008 11:27 AM | Link to this
OSU sucks… i hope the NCAA gets it right this year and doesn’t let them near the national championship game so i have a reason to watch beyond the impending blowout in the 2nd quarter by another SEC team
By MANVAN32
July 30, 2008 10:22 AM | Link to this
ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE,YOU HAVE TO GIVE SOME CREDIT TO THE OFFENSIVE LINE TO CREATE SOME HOLES.THAT BEING SAID .YES HE HAVE A SHOT.