The South Carolina Gamecocks have a few rookies starting their new careers with NFL teams as the 2026 season inches closer. But also happening are NFL clubs signing former Gamecocks to their rosters ahead of training camp.Â
That's just what the Atlanta Falcons did in signing former South Carolina wide receiver Antwane "Juice" Wells earlier this week. The signing was made on the second day of Atlanta's minicamp. Wells is coming off an impressive United Football League (UFL) season with the Columbus Aviators.Â
Across his nine games during the spring season, Wells finished with 25 receptions for 237 yards with two touchdowns. He averaged an impressive 9.5 yards per catch. He was also impressive on punt returns, getting 16 returns for 205 yards, averaging 12.8 yards per return.Â
On SI's Mike Kadlick thinks Wells has a 30% chance to make Atlanta's 53-man roster, but he could prove useful to the Falcons on special teams
"Wells returns to the southeast and will join an Atlanta wide receiver room led by Drake London—but with not much else in between," Kadlick writes of Wells. Pairing his special teams versatility with a strong summer could give him a decent chance to make the club."
Wells started his college career at James Madison from 2020-2021, getting his best statistical season with the Dukes as a sophomore. During his 2021 season, he had 83 receptions for 1,250 yards and 15 touchdowns, which led the team. Those numbers were impressively a single-season school record. He then transferred to South Carolina, spending two seasons with the Gamecocks in 2022 and 2023. Across his two seasons, he had 71 receptions for 965 yards with seven touchdowns, adding a rushing score.Â
He spent his last season of NCAA eligibility with Ole Miss in 2024, getting 28 receptions for 553 yards and six scores. He went undrafted during the 2025 NFL Draft, but signed as a free agent with the New York Giants in May. He was briefly on the team's practice squad last season with New York before getting released on October 28.Â
Obviously Wells signing with the Falcons just means he can get a chance at making the 53-man roster, but sometimes getting a shot is all you need. But Atlanta currently has 10 wideouts on its roster pre-cuts, including rookies Zachariah Branch and Keelan Marion, as well as veterans Olamide Zaccheaus, Jahan Dotson, London and Dylan Drummond.Â
The Atlanta Falcons will be hosting their annual training camp in the coming weeks through August 20, with the 53-man final cut date for all 53 NFL teams set for Aug. 30 at 6p.m. ET. We'll see if Wells has what it takes to make the final cut in Atlanta. Given his ability on special teams, that could give him a definite edge. The Falcons haven't made the postseason since the 2017 season so they could use all the help offensively they can get under new head coach Kevin Stefanski.
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