Antwane Wells: FCS Standout To Power Five Star

This time a yr in the past, Antwane Wells Jr., nicknamed “Juice” by his coaches and teammates, was on the brink of go up towards Weber State, a college positioned out in Ogden, Utah, that play within the Massive Sky Convention on the Soccer Subdivision Championship stage or FCS. When evaluating the place Wells was then to the place he’s now, it is fairly protected to say that lots has modified for Antwane Wells Jr. so far as his athletic profession is worried.

Wells transferred to South Carolina this previous offseason after a banner yr at his earlier cease in James Madison, the place he caught 83 passes for 1,250 receiving yards and 15 receiving touchdowns, garnering second-team FCS All-American honors within the course of. 

So, the query about Wells wasn’t if he was a proficient participant who may assist the Gamecocks on offense. Everybody who watched Wells intently or had coached towards him knew he had handed the eyeball check. Nonetheless, the questions folks had primarily surrounded one considered hesitation, would he have the ability to proceed producing at a excessive stage towards SEC competitors?

Admittedly, this was a good query to ask, as, previously, many lower-level gamers tried to make the bounce to the SEC who had been wildly overmatched and unable to hold over the success. If the primary two weeks are any indicator, Wells will just do superb at his new dwelling.

Via week two, Wells leads the SEC in receiving yards with 244 and is tied for receptions with Tennessee’s Cedric Tillman, sitting at fifteen presently. These rankings are available lieu of a herculean effort put up by Juice towards Arkansas, the place he caught eight passes for a whopping 189 receiving yards, together with a 62-yard catch and run that led to the Gamecocks’ second landing of the sport.

In each the Georgia State and Arkansas video games, Wells has proven a capability to make performs for this offense, together with scrambling to interrupt open whereas Rattler’s on the run, breaking tackles resulting in further yardage, and utilizing his imaginative and prescient to seek out open area after the catch.

Wells has proven all of this in spades because the begin of the season, and with lackluster begins from another vital receiving threats, the Gamecocks have wanted each single little bit of it.

Whereas Wells may not have the ability to preserve this tempo going, any doubts as as to if or not he may carry a big impression to this offense have been silenced for now, and for Gamecock followers, it is one thing they hope will proceed all through the remainder of the season.

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