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Lane Kiffin was in Columbia, SC on Wednesday, sparking rumors of potential transfer recruiting. Those flames were only fanned by a cryptic golf cart tweet sent out by the Ole Miss head coach.
The South Carolina Gamecocks appear to be one of the programs hit hardest by the portal this SEC offseason. Shane Beamer’s bunch has already seen 14 players announce intentions to hit the open market.
According to @On3sports, there are currently 1,086 players in the 2024 Transfer Portal.
Here’s a look at the totals from the nation’s two premier conferences👀@B1Gfootball @SEC pic.twitter.com/9RIcqTwfD6
— Double BB🌟 (@BBsBigHouse1) December 6, 2023
One of those players is All-SEC wide receiver Juice Wells.
Wells was the Gamecocks’ top offensive threat in 2022, reeling in 68 receptions for a team-leading 928 yards. That included a 177-yard performance against Tennessee and a 131-yard day against Clemson, a pair of Top 10 teams.
He was expected to be a major contributor for South Carolina in ’23 but was slowed by a foot injury. After finding the endzone for an early score against Georgia, he was forced to the sidelines.
@jacket.country Prayers up to Juice Wells 🙏 get better fast! #fyp #spursup🤙🏼🐔 #gamecocksfb #beamerball #juicewells #gamecocknation #sportstiktok #viral #trending #collegefootball #football #georgia #georgiabulldogs #clemson #clemsontigers #tennessee #tennesseevols #gbo🍊 ♬ sonido original – Capcut plantillas
Wells wouldn’t return to the field over the final nine games, and the South Carolina offense would struggle.
Those Gamecocks seemed to get some good news before their final game of the year, though, as the pass catcher announced his plan to return to college football. Unfortunately, it appears he’ll do so at a new school.
Rumored to be unable to strike a deal with the NIL collective in Columbia, he opted to enter the transfer portal.
— Antwane Wells (@juicew3lls) December 4, 2023
Due to the COVID year and last year’s redshirt season, he’ll have two more years of eligibility. Whoever lands the wideout will get one of the SEC’s best if he’s able to pick up where he left off.
Juice Wells to Ole Miss?
Wells was initially linked to Tennessee and Texas in the transfer market, but a new school might’ve emerged this week.
Lane Kiffin was on campus Wednesday, and he posted a cryptic golf cart message on X.
— Lane Kiffin (@Lane_Kiffin) December 6, 2023
Innocent enough, but shortly thereafter, Wells posted a video to his Instagram story referencing a golf cart of his own.
“Word that came out, somebody done took my golf cart, man,” he said while getting a fresh cut in the South Carolina team facility. “I see what it is. Carolina folks crazy, man, but what don’t break me, makes me.”
Coincidence? Some don’t think so.
Message boards quickly erupted with reaction.
“So, Lane posts the golf cart, [SC Dir. of Player Personnel] Taylor Edwards posts Juice’s car at the facility, and then another OM coach posts his car hood. Ole Miss is trolling.”
“I hear he asked the barber to write Ole Miss onto the side of his head.”
“So, what was with the Kiffin tweet and the golf cart? Was that Juice’s?”
The rumors are starting to gain steam. If Lane Kiffin does ultimately pull Juice Wells to Ole Miss, the Rebels will get an instant upgrade at the wide receiver position.