Asst. Coach: Wells injured big toe
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State tailback Chris "Beanie" Wells is not taking contact or putting pressure on his injured right foot but still holds out hope of playing in the Buckeyes' next game.
Team officials and doctors will huddle within the next day or two to decide if and when Wells will play next. The second-ranked Buckeyes play Ohio University on Saturday, then travel to take on No. 1 Southern California Sept. 13.
"Is he injured or does he just have some pain he can play through?" running backs coach Dick Tressel said Wednesday. "We've got a long way to go, we're counting on playing a lot of football this fall. We're going to be smart with his rehab."
Wells has an injury at the base of his big toe on his right foot, said Tressel, the older brother of coach Jim Tressel. Wells has difficulty putting pressure on the foot and has not participated in full practices this week, Tressel said.
"Absolutely, he wants to play Saturday, but it's not his call," Tressel said.
Wells was injured in the third quarter of Ohio State's 43-0 victory over Youngstown State on Saturday. He writhed on the ground and was eventually helped off the field. He returned to watch the final few minutes, wearing a protective black boot on his foot.
Tressel said Wednesday that he had seen Wells wearing the boot and not wearing it earlier in the day.
"I'd just as soon he wore it all the time," he said.
Considered one of the top Heisman Trophy prospects this season, Wells will have to wait for doctors to decide whether he is available to play against Ohio University on Saturday.
If Wells is unable to play, a group of four running backs will all see playing time: Maurice Wells, Brandon Saine, Dan "Boom" Herron and Marcus Williams.
"If I could get each of them about 15 carries, I'd have a good weekend," Tressel said.
Wells has had nagging injuries throughout his two previous years at Ohio State. Still, he rushed for more than 1,600 yards and scored 15 touchdowns a year ago, marking him as one of the top returning running backs in the nation.
Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press
Michigan WR Mario Manningham enters NFL draft
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) -- Mario Manningham confirmed Monday he will skip his senior season at Michigan to enter the NFL draft.
"It was a hard decision, but after discussing it with my family it was the right one for me to make right now," Manningham said in an interview with The Associated Press while driving home to Ohio. "I've heard I will be drafted in the first round because of the lack of depth at wide receiver."
Manningham said he will work out in Cleveland while preparing for the April draft.
New Wolverines coach Rich Rodriguez said last week he didn't expect to coach Manningham, fellow wideout Adrian Arrington or quarterback Ryan Mallett at Michigan.
Arrington also passed up his final year of eligibility to enter the NFL draft. Mallet left Michigan after his freshman season and plans to transfer to another school.
Manningham is a potential first-round pick after catching 72 passes for 1,174 yards and 12 touchdowns this season. He also rushed 19 times for 119 yards and a score, earning second-team All-America honors.
The 6-foot, 178-pound native of Warren, Ohio, had 65 receptions for 1,136 yards and 15 touchdowns during his first two seasons with the Wolverines.
Most of Michigan's top offensive players from 2007 are gone, leaving the Wolverines with a rebuilding project this year. In addition to the early departures of Manningham and Arrington, running back Mike Hart, quarterback Chad Henne and All-America tackle Jake Long were seniors this season.
Rodriguez, the West Virginia coach before leaving to become Lloyd Carr's successor at Michigan, plans to have his spread offense led by a mobile quarterback. The 6-foot-7, 252-pound Mallett has a strong arm and is best suited for a pro-style offense.
Mallett's father said last week that his son wouldn't return to Ann Arbor, but said Monday that the former Texas Class 4A offensive player of the year had not yet decided where to resume his college football career.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Rutgers' Ray Rice to declare for NFL draft
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) -- Ray Rice will skip his senior year to enter the NFL draft after becoming the leading rusher in Rutgers history and transforming the Scarlet Knights into a Top 25 team.
"I have always dreamed of playing in the NFL, and I felt the time is right to pursue the opportunity to play at the next level," he said in a statement Tuesday.
His decision came three days after he ran for 280 yard and scored four touchdowns in a 52-30 victory over Ball State in the International Bowl. It was Rutgers' third straight bowl game and second straight bowl win after the school went 27 years without qualifying for a bowl.
In his three seasons, the Scarlet Knights were 26-12 after failing to finish above .500 in the 12 previous seasons.
"I am very happy for Ray and his family," Rutgers coach Greg Schiano said. "He has been one of the elite players in college football during his career at Rutgers. Although we will miss him greatly, we all look forward to watching him play on Sundays."
Rice and Schiano are to hold a news conference on Wednesday.
Rice leaves Rutgers with numerous records, including career yards rushing (4,926), career rushing touchdowns (49) and yards rushing in a season (2,012) and game (280). He became the 13th player in NCAA history to gain more than 2,000 yards in a season. He made The Associated Press' All-American second team as a sophomore and junior.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved
Oklahoma DB Holmes doesn't travel to Fiesta Bowl
PHOENIX -- Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops confirmed Wednesday that starting defensive back Lendy Holmes will not play in the Fiesta Bowl, leaving the third-ranked Sooners depleted in the secondary for their game against No. 11 West Virginia.
"He didn't come on the trip and won't be here," Stoops said upon arriving in Arizona for the Jan. 2 game.
Holmes' father told The Dallas Morning News this weekend that his son expected to be academically ineligible for the Fiesta Bowl but a school spokesman indicated that Stoops was holding out hope Holmes would be able to play.
Holmes started nine games for Oklahoma (11-2) this season and had been expected to move from his primary role at safety to fill in for starting cornerback Reggie Smith, who broke his toe in the Big 12 championship game.
Stoops said redshirt freshman Dominique Franks or sophomore Brian Jackson would likely start at the vacated cornerback position opposite Marcus Walker.
"We'll see how those guys work through the week. We have a lot of confidence in both of them," Stoops said. "We'll continue to play like we always have."
Senior Darien Williams is expected to start at safety in place of Holmes.
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press
Tight end Coffman expects to be back at Missouri next season
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) -- Missouri tight end Chase Coffman expects to return for his senior season rather than enter the NFL draft, but isn't quite ready to make that decision final.
Around the time No. 7 Missouri (11-2) plays No. 25 Arkansas (8-4) in the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 1, Coffman expects to hear back from the NFL advisory committee that offers advice to juniors who think they may want to enter the draft. The committee suggests which round in the draft it believes a player would be picked. Coffman sent in an application that includes mostly game film.
Until he hears back, he won't decide whether to turn pro.
"As of right now I'm almost positive I'll be staying," Coffman said. "Whenever we get this thing back that predicts what round, I'll sit down and think a little bit more."
Last year, Coffman's fellow tight end, Martin Rucker, went through the same process. Given a fifth-round prediction, he returned for his senior season and became an All-American.
Coffman is third on the team with 51 catches for 523 yards and seven touchdowns. An ankle injury midway through the season has slowed him down the stretch.
Coffman underwent surgery after Missouri lost the Big 12 title game to Oklahoma, but is expected to be healthy for the Cotton Bowl.
Quarterback Chase Daniel, who was fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting, has also asked for a review from the NFL advisory committee, but he has said he fully expects to return for his junior year.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Carroll excited about first visit
Oakland (Calif.) McClymonds offensive lineman Allen Carroll is down to four schools and hopes to officially visit each of them before making his decision. He'll take his first visit this coming weekend.
Carroll, 6-4, 290 pounds is among the top offensive line prospects in the West region. He plays tackle at the high school level but likely projects as a guard in college. He's a three year starter for McClymonds and earned 1st team all-state underclass honors last season.
His final four schools are Washington, Oregon, Arizona and UCLA and his first visit is to Seattle this weekend.
"I have Washington this weekend and I'm really looking forward to it," Carroll said. "I've always liked Coach Willingham a lot and although there season didn't go the way they wanted it to, I think they have a lot of young talent and they're building something special there.
"I don't have any other trip dates set but I definitely plan to visit Oregon, Arizona and UCLA. Oregon had a great season and I've heard great things about their campus and facilities. Arizona finished strong and has recruited me hard longer than anyone.
"UCLA doesn't have a coach yet but I like them enough to wait and see who they hire. It's a good school and I was very comfortable when I took an unofficial visit there earlier in the year."
Copyright 2007 Rivals.com. All Rights Reserved.
Auburn, Tuberville agree to 2-year extension
AUBURN, Ala. (AP) -- Getting six straight wins over archrival Alabama has earned Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville a contract extension and a bigger paycheck.
Tuberville agreed to a two-year contract extension that will pay him $2.8 million next season and increase $200,000 annually until it reaches $3.8 million in 2013, the final year. That will still be less than the $4 million 'Bama is giving Nick Saban.
The deal, announced in a statement Tuesday night, was reached earlier in the day with athletic director Jay Jacobs while they were in New York for the College Football Hall of Fame banquet.
The announcement silenced talk that Tuberville might bolt to Arkansas, which has a vacancy and is Tuberville's home state. Earlier he had been mentioned as a possible candidate for the Texas A&M vacancy.
"I'd like to thank the best college football fans in the country, the Auburn fans and the Auburn family for their support and patience over the last few weeks," Tuberville said in a statement. "Myself and the entire coaching staff are excited about the past, present and especially the future of Auburn football."
The contract includes a buyout that will be at $6 million in 2008, $5 million in 2009 and $4 million after that if Tuberville leaves for another job or is fired.
Tuberville is 79-33 in nine seasons at Auburn, including a school-record six straight wins over Alabama. Saban was hired before the 2007 season for an eight-year deal worth $32 million to turn the Crimson Tide's fortunes around.
Under Tuberville, Auburn has played in eight consecutive bowls and has been among the nation's winningest teams in recent years. They are 41-9 since 2004, when they went 13-0, won the Southeastern Conference championship and earned a No. 2 ranking. They fell to 8-4 this season, however, including losses to South Florida and Mississippi State.
"Tommy and I worked patiently though this process and did what was best for Auburn," athletic director Jay Jacobs said. "He has not only achieved success with a winning program, but has student-athletes that graduate and represent Auburn in the finest manner."
Auburn faces Clemson in the Chick-fil-A Bowl on Dec. 31 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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