2008 Heisman Watch: Chris Wells

It’s the most prestigious individual award in all of sports, and Athlon's Heisman Watch spotlights the top 25 candidates to hoist the trophy. Ohio State running back Chris Wells is next on the 2008 list, which will be released in no particular order.

Ohio State heads into 2008 looking to make its third consecutive appearance in the national championship game. Although this team has been heavily criticized for losing two consecutive national title games, most programs in college football would certainly like to be in that position. If the Buckeyes are able to reach Miami, Chris Wells will be a big reason why.

In his first full season as a starter last year, Wells rushed for 1,609 yards and 15 touchdowns and had some of his best performances in the biggest games. In the loss to LSU, he ran for 146 yards and one touchdown, including a 65-yard scamper on the fourth play of the game. Against rival Michigan, he torched the Wolverine defense for 222 yards and two touchdowns on 39 carries.

For his terrific sophomore season, Wells was voted the team’s most valuable player and First Team All-Big Ten by the media and coaches. His 1,609 yards as a sophomore followed up a promising freshman campaign where he backed up Antonio Pittman for 576 yards and seven touchdowns.

Wells begins 2008 as a First-Team Athlon Sports All-American and also earns a spot on the preseason All Big-Ten first team. He is expected to be one of the top players in college football this season and considering he is one of the top pro prospects, this could be his final year in Columbus.

Why he’ll be holding the hardware: There’s no question Wells is easily one of the most talented running backs in the country. After his performances against LSU and Michigan, Wells’ Heisman campaign took a few steps forward going into this year and he’ll immediately have a chance to stake a claim in the race with a September 13th date against USC. If he has a huge performance in this game, he could immediately become the frontrunner. It doesn’t hurt his campaign that the Buckeyes should be among the top five teams in 2008, either.

Why he’ll be left out: It’s hard to find many reasons why Wells could be left out. However, the huge early season match-up with USC could come back to hurt the junior if he has a less than stellar showing on a huge national stage. If the Buckeyes also stumble somewhere along the way other than USC, Wells could have a tough time climbing back to the top in a crowded field of candidates.

Final Analysis: The Buckeyes have a solid history of producing Heisman winners from the running back position, as Vic Janowicz, Howard Cassady, Eddie George, and Archie Griffin have taken the hardware back to Columbus. Wells enters this season with an excellent shot at winning the Heisman and should be considered among the favorites to win.

2007 STAT LINE

Other Links:

Athlon Sports' 2008 Heisman Watch
Read the Ohio State team preview
Watch the Ohio State preview video