‘Judas’ Wells? Nick Emmanwori, USC’s DBs share thoughts about former Gamecock WR

It’s been seven-and-a-half months since former South Carolina wide receiver Antwane “Juice” Wells decided to transfer to Ole Miss after hardly playing for the Gamecocks in 2023.

Seven months and no love lost.

The TV executives for the Oct. 5 matchup between the Rebels and Gamecocks at Williams-Brice Stadium need to send a bevy of thank-you cards around for the WWE-esque promotion for the game that’s been popping up on social media.

A week ago, Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin posted a video of Wells running a route while South Carolina’s legendary “2001” entrance music played over the video.

Then on Wednesday, Gamecock safety Nick Emmanwori shared a picture of Wells on his Instagram page with a new nickname for his old teammate.

“Judas Wells,” Emmanwori wrote.

Judas, one of the 12 Apostles in the Bible, was famous for betraying Jesus by giving up his whereabouts for 30 pieces of silver. In other words, Emmanwori’s post was calling Wells a traitor.

During South Carolina’s on-campus media day Thursday, when asked if he wasn’t a fan of Wells, Emmanwori didn’t go all in.

“Nah, I’m not saying that,” Emmanwori said. “Whatever happened between the coaches and Juice, that’s what it is. I’m not saying anyone hates him over here. I’m not gonna say it’s bad blood. He was a good friend of mine when he was here — I’ll just keep it at that.”

Emmanwori continued: “A lot of people don’t know his situation behind the scenes. Just wait for the game to come to see how it plays out. There’s gonna be a lot of energy. It’s gonna be a fun game.”

Other defensive backs, when prompted, didn’t even want to get into the Ole Miss game. Obviously they are aware of Wells. They are aware of what the reception of that reunion in Columbia will be. But they’re not trying to see it as anything more than another game — or at least telling the media that.

“Any game I’m excited about,” redshirt senior cornerback O’Donnell Fortune said. “Ole Miss. Old Dominion. I’m gonna come in with the same mindset every game.”

Added junior safety DQ Smith: “We’re treating every game the same, not just pointing one game out because we have a (former) player on that team. ... ODU is the first game of the year. That’s the game we’re worried about.”

Redshirt freshman Vicari Swain, who only spent a year on the same roster as Wells, admitted “Ole Miss is going to be a crazy game” but noted he has no hard feeling toward the former Gamecock.

“At the end of the day, everybody has to do what’s best for them,” Swain said. “It’s just gonna be a good game.”