South Carolina WR Juice Wells expected to enter transfer portal, reports say
Antwane “Juice” Wells’ time at South Carolina could be coming to an end.
The surprise standout from the Gamecocks’ 2022 season is expected to enter the transfer portal, according to reports Thursday morning from TheBigSpur and GamecockCentral.
He’s already transferred once and, according to the reports, would be entering the portal this time as a graduate transfer, a move that would grant him immediate eligibility at his new college home.
Nothing was official as of early Thursday. A player can enter their name into the portal and still return to their current team.
Wells announced via X (formerly known as Twitter) Nov. 20 that he’s “not playing and not holding out for the NFL draft. I’ll be back next year…”
Wells never directly indicated he’d be back at South Carolina.
Coach Shane Beamer, in his weekly press conference last Tuesday, was asked about the contents of that social media post and whether or not he was aware of it.
“I met with Juice a couple of times last week and over the weekend,” Beamer said. “The post that he had on X ... didn’t surprise me as far as what he announced.”
Last season, his first with the team after transferring from James Madison, Wells led the Gamecocks with 68 catches for 928 yards and six touchdowns. He received 2023 preseason All-SEC and All-American nods.
After that standout first season in Columbia, Wells was regarded as one of the SEC leaders in terms of the volume of name, image and likeness deals he was able to secure.
But in 2023, he was been limited to just three games, in which he snagged three receptions for 37 yards and one touchdown, due to a foot injury.
In Wells’ absence, senior wide receiver Xavier Legette became quarterback Spencer Rattler’s No. 1 target.
The departure of Wells and Legette (NFL) would leave South Carolina depleted in experience at the position. Returning players would include Nyck Harbor, O’Mega Blake, Tyshawn Russell, Elijah Caldwell, Luke Doty, Landon Samson, Payton Mangrum, Zavier Short, Kylic Horton, CJ Adams and Kelton Henderson. USC has two high school commitments at the position in Mazeo Bennett and Zy’marion Lang.
Legette had 71 catches to lead USC in 2023. After him, Blake is the leading returning receiver with 19 catches. Doty had 13 grabs, and Harbor 11.
The transfer portal doesn’t officially open until Monday. There have been three others reported to have plans to leave the USC program: edge rusher Donovan Westmoreland and quarterbacks Tanner Bailey and Colten Gauthier.
This story was originally published November 30, 2023 at 8:48 AM.
