Gamecocks' Juice Wells plans to keep his star shining

COLUMBIA — The deals rolled in like spirals from his quarterback. Hey Dude shoes. Village Idiot pizza. Priority One Security. Tasty as Fit meals, where he has his own smoothie appropriately titled, “The Juice.” It’s great to be Antwane “Juice” Wells these days, the leading returning receiver in the SEC and according to one attorney, the leading returning SEC player in NIL deals. South Carolina’s rising senior wideout enjoyed all of the fame and perks that an outstanding 2022 season brought him. But now that it’s time to work, he’s working. The decision changed everything. Nobody would have begrudged Wells had he done what some expected last year and declared for the NFL Draft. Because he spent a year in prep school, Wells turned 22 a few weeks before the draft despite only playing three seasons in college. Older to an NFL scout is not necessarily better, and there’s always the risk of a bad year following a great one. But once Wells decided he wanted to come back to USC, wanted to keep catching passes from Spencer Rattler and wanted to see what new offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains could cook up for him, he figured he could put the pros on hold for a year. “This year, it’s actually like, ‘The league is the next step.’ I’m making sure I got that little voice in the back of my head — Keep going,” Wells said. “It’s that dog mentality, play like you’re the best man on the field, treat this last year like a professional because next year, I will be a professional.” Anything close to what he did on the field last year, and it’s a lock. Wells finished second in the SEC to Biletnikoff Award winner Jalin Hyatt of Tennessee in catches (68) and receiving yards (928) in the regular season, with six touchdowns. He caught 20 balls for 308 yards and two touchdowns in the final two games against Tennessee and Clemson, also rushing for a touchdown. It was the Clemson game that most endeared him to USC fans. Wells torched the Tigers' secondary for a 72-yard touchdown, racing past safety Andrew Mukuba and causing him to tumble to the ground while Wells trotted into the end zone. That screenshot alone became the lockscreen on more than a few cell phones. But then he took a screen pass on third-and-4, the Gamecocks having already squandered umpteen chances to put the game away. Wells cut in, cut out, avoided two tackles and stretched for the crucial five yards needed to move the sticks and put the game in kneel-down territory. He’ll forever be remembered as the guy who broke what was tied for the longest losing streak in rivalry history. He was already a star, but that put him on the cusp of legendary. When Rattler pledged yes for 2023, Wells was close behind, immediately giving USC’s new OC two instrumental building blocks for his first offense. “He’s just a cool guy, good guy to be around,” Wells said of Loggains, who cues up a song whenever he sees Wells (“Juice” by Yo Gotti, naturally) and according to Wells, already has dozens of plans and plays to get Juice the ball. “I love the way he coaches me.” Rattler and Wells worked out together in May, and get together for individual work after their team-scripted workouts in June. The two constantly discuss the last two games they had in the regular season and how much they look forward to replicating them. Head coach Shane Beamer was already raving about Wells before spring practice got into full swing. “He’s got an edge about himself,” Beamer said. “He’ll be the first to tell you he can improve on all of it, because of his mentality and his work ethic and his desire to be great.” Beamer pointed out that he saw a graphic on Twitter about how Wells was one of the SEC’s best in yards after contact, but the picture it used was of Wells running away from a defender, the ball held by the point and cradled into his wrist. He described the ball security as “godawful.” Wells took it to heart. Everything can be better. “Learning the line protections, getting a full understanding of the whole offense,” Wells listed as some of his offseason goals. “Every part of my game can improve.” His profile and finances have improved through NIL, and he’s had fun with it. But it’s all secondary to becoming the true king of the SEC. That’s only earned on the field, and Wells plans to earn it.