Lane Kiffin may have a new favorite “Juice,” and no, it’s not his dog, Juice Kiffin. Instead, it’s his new standout wide receiver, Juice Wells. An Ole Miss receiver, Wells seemed primed for a performance worth talking about.

The long-awaited return of the former South Carolina wideout came as Ole Miss, ranked No. 12, took on the Gamecocks in Columbia. However, the game was more of a one-sided affair as Ole Miss cruised to a 27-3 victory. And when Wells entered the stadium, the South Carolina fans greeted their former player with a chorus of boos. On the flip side, Ole Miss fans rallied behind him, chanting “Juice Wells! Juice Wells!” to show their support. And Juice didn’t disappoint—his play left both fans and Kiffin’s son, Knox Kiffin, amazed.

Knox, Lane Kiffin’s quarterback son, is a die-hard supporter of his dad’s team and its players. Following the game, Knox Kiffin posted on Instagram on October 6, 2024, saying, “juicew3lls owns South Carolina.” If you caught the game, you know why.

Wells delivered a stellar performance. At one point, quarterback Jaxson Dart connected with him on a slant pass, and Wells broke free, running 59 yards down the field. Unfortunately, as he neared the goal line, he lost possession of the football after being shoved out at the 1-yard line, leading to a touchback for South Carolina. Even with the fumble, Wells’ contribution to the game was significant, and his play helped solidify Ole Miss’s dominance.

It wasn’t just Juice Wells shining, though. The Ole Miss defense put on an impressive display. After struggling defensively in the previous week, the Rebels bounced back strong, proving too much for South Carolina to handle. They held the Gamecocks to just 1 of 4 on fourth-down attempts. On offense, Jaxson Dart had an excellent game as well, throwing for 285 yards, and the whole team seemed to own the field. It’s clear why Wells made the decision to transfer to a powerhouse like Ole Miss from South Carolina.

The reason behind Juice Wells’ transfer to Ole Miss from South Carolina

So, why did Juice Wells make the switch to Ole Miss in the first place? The wide receiver has already made an impact this season, with 14 receptions for 274 yards and four touchdowns. Fans who once cheered him on in South Carolina now wonder why he left. Some speculate it was due to NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) money, while others have different theories. But what’s the real story?

South Carolina running back Dakereon Joyner weighed in, saying, “It’s a misunderstanding on our fans’ part, to a sense.” According to Joyner, Wells didn’t leave for NIL money. “Ahead of the 2023 season, his foot was already broken. He then hurriedly recovered in order to compete that year, despite not being fully well throughout the first two games.” Apparently, South Carolina’s coaching staff believed Wells was faking the injury, leading to a “trust issue” between him and the team. On top of that, Wells had concerns about South Carolina’s quarterback situation after Spencer Rattler.

However, Wells himself cleared the air, saying, “To be honest, I felt Ole Miss was the greatest team in the SEC, which is why I chose them.” And based on his performance, it looks like he made the right choice. Now, Juice Wells is gearing up for his next challenge. Let’s see what he has in store next.