Juice Wells announces return to South Carolina in 2024

South Carolina‘s Antwane ‘Juice’ Wells, who has missed most of the 2023 season with injury, has announced that he will return to Columbia for another year.

“Clearing the air, I’m not playing and not holding out for the NFL draft. I’ll be back next year,” he tweeted.

Wells has played in just three games for South Carolina this season, racking up just three catches for 37 yards and one touchdown. In four seasons across South Carolina and James Madison, Wells has compiled 2,818 receiving yards and 28 touchdowns.

Earlier this month, Gamecocks head coach Shane Beamer updated Wells’ status with a vague statement, but still noted that both him and Wells remain confident in his recovery and that he’ll be back on the field sooner rather than later.

“I would say he’s OK,” said Beamer, via an article by On3’s Justin Rudolph. “If it gets to the point these next three games where Juice is able to play, I’ll let you know. I don’t want to come in here every single week; ‘He’s basically out until I tell you otherwise and don’t anticipate him playing this week.’ I’m not trying to B.S you. There’s a chance that he could play. It’s just kind of where he is mentally and where he is physically and where we are with things.

“He told you guys on the teleconference Sunday he ran, (and) he ran well. He was out at practice today, and he didn’t practice today, but he was out there. So, he continues to get closer and closer, but he’s out right now. That can change tomorrow; that can change next week. I don’t really know. It’s kind of a day-to-day type of thing.”

It seems as though Wells will still attempt to make a comeback at some point this season — though it isn’t guaranteed. He certainly wants to make it back for Saturday’s rivalry matchup against Clemson. Not only would a win be huge for rivalry’s sake, but it would also earn South Carolina its sixth win of the season, meaning they’ll be bowl-eligible with a victory. If not, Saturday is it for the Gamecocks in 2023.

Saturday night’s opening kickoff between the Tigers and Gamecocks is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET live on the SEC Network. The Tigers are seven-point betting favorites against South Carolina despite being the road team, while the over/under total is set at 51.5 total points. All odds are courtesy of Vegas Insider.