ABN: All Beanie Network

Beanie has been in the news a lot recently. From his impending Heisman campaign to his burgeoning scouting prowess, the All Beanie Network has it covered.

Heisman Hopeful: Nary has a season passed without Ohio State players being mentioned as serious candidates for the litany of awards given out each year. Watch list members turn into semifinalists; semifinalists into finalists, finalists into winners. You typically find Buckeyes at every stage of the way.

The Heisman Trophy is no exception. So, it should come as a shock to no one that Chris Wells is already being mentioned as a serious candidate for the award given to America’s best amateur quarterback or running back (occasionally wide receiver). The junior-to-be had a breakout sophomore season and he appears poised for even better numbers this fall. Winning the award will not be easy, however. Another junior-to-be with a loaded offense on a national championship caliber team returns this season. He already has one Heisman.

I have no problem with individual players striving for individual awards. Football is the most team-oriented game, by far, but individual motivations can become infectious in the weight room and practice field. One player’s tenacity can drive an entire squad. If the already great players (Wells, Jenkins, Laurinaitis) work even harder in an effort to achieve personal accolades (Heisman, Thorpe, Butkus), it will be impossible for others not to notice and set a good example for younger players.

Looking for another positive of Wells’ capturing Ohio State’s third Heisman in 14 years (a feat topped by only Southern Cal - 3 trophies in 4 seasons)? How about preventing Tebow from becoming the second two-time Heisman trophy winner, a distinction held only by Archie. That is, of course, until Beanie wins No. 2 in 2009. After all, he said he is staying.

More Beanie: Being a Heisman candidate has not prevented Wells from noticing the other players on the field, particularly the quarterbacks. Wells raved about Henton’s throwing ability and accuracy recently. This may or may not be welcome news for Ohio State fans.

Terrelle Pryor’s recent commitment was met with the type of fanfare typically reserved for game-saving interceptions. That is, the response was definitive, as if Ohio State had just won something tangible. So, Henton’s development might be seen as a barrier to the Buckeyes’ prize seeing the field.

I think most fans, myself included, know that nothing is guaranteed with any recruit, even one as highly touted as the QB from Jeanette. So, Henton’s progress, and even Bauserman’s, has to be seen as a positive. If nothing else, they will provide additional competition for Pryor as he adjusts to major college football and Ohio State.

Wells also had some great things to say about Boom Herron as well. Whether he sees many carries at tailback remains to be seen, but I was excited to read the quotes about putting these guys back on kickoff returns. Something needs to be done about that.