COLUMBUS: Ohio State running back Chris Wells looks the same, but something is a little different.

He remains an intense player, a minimalist with his words and statements. His teammates know to leave him alone when he's in his personal zone.

The difference with Wells was apparent at the Buckeyes' team-photo session this month. He was at ease with himself and the media horde that greets Heisman Trophy candidates.

Ask him why and the answer is simple.

''I'm more comfortable, and I'm more confident in myself and my ability on the field,'' he said. ''Just being out there. Just being around the guys more and more as a team makes me confident.''

Wells, who played with a broken wrist for part of last season and endured ankle problems, too, produced in big situations last year. He rushed for 1,609 yards and 15 touchdowns and was selected the team's most valuable player.

He was the lone bright spot in the Buckeyes' loss to LSU in the BCS National Championship Game last January, rushing for 146 yards, including a 65-yard run that showed his unnatural
mix of power and speed.

The Akron native and Garfield High School graduate is at the top of most Heisman candidate lists.

That confidence always has been there, said his uncle Kevin Porter. Playing football collegiately and professionally always topped Wells' list, Porter said.

''He told me: 'I'm going to play me some football, Uncle Kevin. That's what I'm going to do,' And I said there are things that might happen . . . and he said, 'Uncle Kevin, I'm going to play in the N-F-L.' ''

Porter has been with him throughout the maturation process. At times, Porter has answered his sister Paulette Wells' calls to come put her son in check, drilling into Wells the importance of completing his schoolwork.

''That's what a lot of young boys fail to realize: You are a student-athlete and your grades come first,'' Porter said.

That's one of the lessons Wells learned well. And OSU coach Jim Tressel noticed.

''One of the things that he wanted to accomplish going into last year was to be an Academic All-Big Ten player, to position himself to be so, and he did,'' Tressel said. ''And one of the things he talked a lot about this year was he wanted to maintain that because anybody can be something once, and he wanted — and he did.''

With the attention that surrounds Wells now, it would be easy for him to take the Heisman talk for granted or let it go to his head. That has not been the case.

Ask him about being a Heisman candidate and he dismisses the discussion politely and hastily. Does he even think about it?

''No. Not now. I'm just focused on getting better,'' he said.

It could be dismissed as being aloof, but it's not. It's more of a case that the individual awards aren't that important to him.

''He's just very humble. Even as a small kid, he's always been that way. He's never been big-headed,'' Paulette Wells said. ''The only thing he's really loud about is playing video games. If you'd come to our house with all the kids around, the only thing you'd hear is his mouth.''

Porter said it's part of the family helping to keep his nephew grounded.

''You know what I always tell him?'' she said. ''There are always good athletes. If you get considered to be a Heisman candidate, that's cool, but that's not everything.

''You can't be a Heisman candidate without your team. If you're going to be good, you have to have a good team. It's as simple as that.''

Considering the expectations surrounding the Buckeyes and the limelight that could engulf Wells, Tressel said he has admired the way his star running back is handling things.

''He's thinking the right things about all the various things that are happening in his life, but it's tough when you get as much attention as he's going to get both in numbers of people trying to tackle you,'' Tressel said.