10-12-2004, 08:30 AM
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Head Coach
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Join Date: Nov 2003
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http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjourna...ol/9897198.htm
Quote:
Posted on Tue, Oct. 12, 2004
Mayberry on recruiting
Garfield back's work ethic draws crowd
Wells' strong family influence perpetuates interest of major programs, including Michigan, Ohio State
By Darnell Mayberry
He comes from a working-class family.
His father, James, works in shipping and receiving at Logan Metal factory. His mother, Paulette, drives a van for the Akron Public Schools.
As one of 10 children (six are adopted), Chris Wells and his family don't always have a lot. What Wells, a junior running back at Garfield, does have is a strong supporting cast of family members in his corner and another set in his teammates.
Not to mention an enormous amount of talent.
Wells, listed by Ohio High School Magazine as the No. 1 junior in the state, is one of the area's most recruited players. He already has received official offers from Michigan, Ohio State, Iowa, Akron and Kent State.
Virginia, Notre Dame and Pittsburgh also have shown heavy interest. James Wells estimates that the family has been contacted by every major school in the country with the exception of Louisiana State, Miami (Fla.) and Georgia.
Neither James nor Paulette attended college. Of Wells' nine brothers and sisters, only one, 29-year-old Cherise, is in college at the University of Akron. Wells' brother Donald, 20, dropped out.
``We just can't afford it,'' Paulette said. ``So we stress athletics and academics.''
So football is his ticket.
Wells made the varsity as a 14-year-old freshman at Garfield. He just turned 16 on Aug. 7. He always has been the biggest in his kid in his class. Last year, he bench pressed 350 pounds and has been timed at 4.48 seconds in the 40-yard dash.
``I call him `The Freak' sometimes,'' Garfield coach Bob Sax said. ``Some of the things he's doing, it shouldn't be happening. He defies the odds. Right now, he's what every Big Ten coach wants in a back.''
At 6-foot-2, 220 pounds, his size makes him a punishing back. It can be a deterrent when defensive players lock in on his frame as a target. He hasn't yet learned to avoid taking big hits. His blocking also needs work.
Against Green in Week 3, Wells' backfield teammate Marcus Council went down with an ankle injury. The next week, Wells had a season-high 29 carries, showing he can be a productive workhorse. With Council out, Wells strung together two consecutive 200-plus-yard games and was 5 yards shy of a third last week.
Wells also has a ``punishing stiff arm.'' His footwork is getting better, and he's adding a spin move to his repertoire. The Rams don't do much with their backs out of the backfield, but Wells has good hands. OSU coach Jim Tressel raved about Wells coming out of the backfield at an Ohio State camp in late June, Sax said.
Wells also has vision -- two kinds, in fact, that have nothing to do with 20s. The first is his ability to read defenses and make adjustments. The other is on the short term. Despite all the attention, Wells remains humble. He just enjoys high school for now.
``I think about it every now and then, but it's not an everyday thing,'' Wells said about college. ``I really don't talk about schools I'm looking at because I'm not too worried about it right now.''
Wells has a 3.0 grade-point average and is interested in physical therapy. He considers his family before every decision he makes and college will be no different. His father, James, has been involved more. He said he and Chris are open to all schools but are leaning more toward Michigan, where Chris' cousin Billy Taylor played.
``I just tell him not to worry about it,'' James said. ``We've got to worry about the game this week. That's what our goal is, to go to a football game in November and watch Garfield play.''
Paulette openly expresses her wishes -- Ohio State. She wants him to be close enough so the family can afford to go see him play.
James targeted next summer for a final decision.
``No matter where he goes, we're going to always be there,'' he said.
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