10 players South Carolina Football must have step up after the Bye Week:
Wide Receiver Juice Wells
Gamecock wide receiver Juice Wells was a preseason All-American candidate in a loaded wide receiver environment. Unfortunately, due to no fault of his own, Wells has not been on the field this season.
South Carolina’s top target battled a foot injury this offseason that limited him to decoy duty the first two games of the season, and he had another injury to the same foot against Georgia after scoring a touchdown on the only pass thrown his way (a 17-yard screen pass in which he knifed through half of the Bulldog defense).
Nothing definitive has been released about the timeline for Wells’ return from injury, but the way Shane Beamer has spoken about his star receiver, the Gamecocks expect him to return in the not-too-distant future. When he does, the garnet and black offense will need him to be the Juice Wells of old.
Xavier Legette has been a revelation at wide receiver for the Gamecocks, but the Tennessee game proved that the rest of the Carolina pass catchers are not quite good enough to make a difference if the offensive line doesn’t give them plenty of time to get open.
Seeing as how the pass protection in Columbia doesn’t seem to be improving, quarterback Spencer Rattler likely will be throwing the ball quickly or on the run, meaning his receivers’ ability to get separation will be paramount. Thankfully for the offense, getting open is what Wells does.
If Juice Wells can return and be Juice Wells once again, the combination of Rattler’s two favorite targets will be among the best in the nation.