IAN WELLS
Personal: 5-11, 202 pounds.
Position: Defensive back.
NFL: Agreed to terms with Lions as free agent.
College: Ohio University, 2012-15.
OU career: 42 starts, 141 tackles, 32 pass breakups, two INTs.
High school: Stebbins.
Ian Wells suffered his biggest hit early in his senior season at Stebbins High School. Drawing a lot of football recruiting interest and offers, he had a season-ending injury in Week 2.
“I remember the look I gave my dad, like, what do I do?” recalled Wells, who went on to start 42 games at corner for Ohio University from 2012-15. “I was just helpless. At the end of the (NFL) draft, I gave my dad that same look. He said you’ve come this far, it’s not over. There’s a lot of guys who go undrafted and do big things in the league.”
Like that senior season at Stebbins, Wells’ disappointment in not being selected in last week’s NFL draft didn’t last long. He quickly agreed to terms with the Detroit Lions as a free agent. He’ll sign a contract on Thursday, attend a rookie camp at the Lions’ Allen Park training facility, then join the team for about five weeks of training.
Also signing as a free agent this week was Dunbar grad and former Michigan State defensive back R.J. Williamson with the Green Bay Packers. He was a two-year starter at corner and safety for the Spartans. As a senior last season he tore a biceps and missed the last half of the season.
Wells, powerfully built at 5 feet, 11 inches and 202 pounds, projects as a corner, safety, nickelback and special teams player with the Lions. He made 42 starts at corner for OU and totaled 141 tackles, 32 pass breakups and two interceptions for his career. He started 12 games this past season, recording 35 tackles (26 solos) and eight pass breakups.
“Detroit is the best fit for me,” he said. “I like the (defensive) scheme they run. I just think it’s a good fit for me and I can contribute this year.”
According to Stebbins coach Trace Smitherman, Wells was a difference-maker, even though the Indians won just one game during his career. Stebbins was 7-3 in its last season in the Central Buckeye Conference in 2015 and will join the Greater Western Ohio Conference this fall.
“He’s one of the first guys to get it started again,” said Smitherman, an assistant on the South big-school team for last Saturday’s Ohio North-South Classic all-star football games at Welcome Stadium.
“He started the foundation. Clearly, he was the first to prove you could play Division I college football from Stebbins. Now, he’s getting the opportunity to show not only can you do that, you can go to the NFL and get a shot to play there if you play at Stebbins, also, which is fantastic. I’m so excited for him, I’ve been grinning for hours.”
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