The South Carolina Gamecocks have a recent history with wide receivers that makes the emergence of Antwane Wells Jr. largely unsurprising. Could he end up the Gamecocks’ most highly drafted pass catcher by the time April rolls around? What does Wells’ potential look like for the NFL Draft, and how does his scouting report read?
Antwane Wells Jr. Draft Profile and Measurements
- Height: 6’1″
- Weight: 208
- Position: Wide Receiver
- School: South Carolina
- Current Year: Senior
From FCS-level James Madison to SEC All-American (first and second team, depending on who you ask,) Wells’ journey has been as impressive as it is surprising. He spent two seasons at JMU, amassing 21 TDs and 1,853 yards in his two seasons there.
Wells went from star-less recruit to a four-star transfer, and his rise in stardom didn’t stop when he landed down I95 in South Carolina. He became Spencer Rattler‘s go-to WR in 2022, amassing 928 yards and six TDs for the Gamecocks.
Antwane Wells Jr. Scouting Report
Strengths
- Physicality in all phases
- Sturdy build
- Strong RAC option with contact balance and lateral agility/creativity
- More than enough body control to contort and stretch for off-target passes
- Soft, strong hands that effortlessly bring the ball in
- Commands targets through reliability
- Strong route runner
Weaknesses
- Lacks pure separation quickness
- Good downfield prowess but not a pure burner
- More explosive than fast
Current Draft Projection and Summary
Wells will receive the “possession WR” tag throughout the process, but that’s somewhat unfair. His nickname isn’t “Juice” for no reason.
Wells is explosive. He’s also a steller post-catch player displaying the kind of contact balance, creativity, and freedom of movement consistent with steller route runners.
MORE: Top WRs in the 2024 NFL Draft
In order to reach his NFL Draft ceiling, he will need to transfer that free-flowing movement and reactive creativity into proactive attention to detail. That will allow Wells to create more consistent separation without having to rely on lean-and-drive tactics on in-breakers.
His stock should already be sitting firmly inside the Day 2 range. If Wells has a bump in production in Year 2 in Columbia as he did at JMU, he could be a contender for first-round draft capital if he can test well alongside having outrageous production.