Antwane Wells Jr. WR Ole Miss | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Antwane Wells Jr. WR Ole Miss
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| ROLE: Outside X-Receiver | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 03/19/2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.58 seconds (23%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowl Invite: Shrine Bowl | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| ROLE: Outside X-Receiver | |
| Last Updated: 03/19/2025 | |
| Draft Year: 2025 | |
| 40 time: 4.58 seconds (23%*) | |
| Bowl Invite: Shrine Bowl | |
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SHARE THIS PROFILE:
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| Overall Rating: | 79.7 / 100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
| Defense Rating: |
|
77% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 99.1 | |
| Hands: |
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40% |
| Short Receiving: |
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67% |
| Intermediate Routes: |
|
74% |
| Deep Threat: |
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67% |
| Blocking: |
|
59% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
6th
Overall Rank:
#199
Position rank:
#24
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| College Games: 49 College Snaps: 2432 | ||
| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dontayvion Wicks - Virginia |
|
87% |
| Rakim Jarrett - Maryland |
|
76% |
| Jalen Wayne - South Alabama |
|
63% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Antwane Wells Jr. the former high school standout who helped Highland Springs capture back-to-back state championships blazed an unconventional trail through Fork Union Military Academy before landing at James Madison University, where he rewrote the record books. During his FCS tenure, Wells racked up 116 receptions for 1,853 yards and 21 touchdowns across just 22 games, establishing himself as one of the most dangerous offensive weapons at that level.Wells leveled up in 2022 after transferring to South Carolina, where he immediately became the offensive centerpiece for the Gamecocks. His 68 receptions and 928 yards (both eighth-best in school history) earned him first-team All-SEC honors and the title of team offensive MVP. His 555 yards after catch led all SEC receivers that season, displaying the physical running style that would become his calling card. The explosive playmaker looked poised for an even bigger 2023 campaign before a foot injury limited him to just three games.
Rather than declaring for the draft, Wells transferred to Ole Miss for his final collegiate season, where he worked to reestablish his draft stock. Though his raw production (28 catches, 553 yards, 6 TDs) didn't match his 2022 campaign at South Carolina, he showcased his vertical threat ability by averaging 19.8 yards per reception. Wells functioned primarily as a big-play specialist in Lane Kiffin's high-powered offense, posting the sixth-highest average depth of target (17.8 yards) among all FBS receivers in 2024. His contributions helped the Rebels set school records in total yards, yards per play, passing yards, and passing yards per game.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Carries significant play strength through his contact points, regularly shaking off grabby defensive backs who try jamming him at the line of scrimmage.
- Shows some real dog after the catch, transforming into a punishing north-south runner who breaks arm tackles and drags smaller defenders for critical yardage.
- Possesses deceptive build-up speed that allows him to stack defenders vertically when he gets clean releases off the line.
- Demonstrates savvy understanding of leverage, consistently working back to the ball and walling off defenders with his frame on comeback routes.
- Flashes impressive body control adjusting to balls along the sideline, showing discipline to get both feet in bounds while maintaining concentration.
- Creates yards through contact with sturdy lower body, able to absorb hits without losing balance and falling forward for extra yards.
- Displays impressive short-area quickness and change-of-direction ability that belies his compact build when working against zone coverage.
- Functions as a constant big-play threat, evidenced by his career 16.1 yards per catch average across all three collegiate stops.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Failed to develop statistically as hoped at the SEC level, with production declining at Ole Miss (28 catches, 553 yards) after promising South Carolina sophomore campaign.
- Posted a disappointing 4.58 forty at the Combine, confirming tape evaluation that he lacks the top-end speed necessary to consistently threaten NFL secondaries vertically.
- Labors through his breaks as a long-strider, struggling to generate sharp cuts that create meaningful separation on intermediate breaking routes.
- Shows concerning inconsistency tracking the ball over his shoulder on vertical routes, often misjudging trajectory resulting in missed opportunities.
- Telegraphs his intentions with excessive upper-body movement before breaks, allowing savvy corners to anticipate and jump his routes.
Scouting Report: Summary
Looking at the tape, Wells offers intriguing value as a physical possession receiver with occasional big-play capability. The numbers tell the story - his intermediate route production significantly outpaces his deep ball efficiency, suggesting his NFL ceiling lies in working the middle zones rather than stretching defenses vertically. His contact balance and yards-after-catch tenacity will translate immediately to Sunday action, giving him a defined role from day one despite technical limitations.The foot injury that derailed his 2023 campaign looms large in his evaluation. When healthy, Wells demonstrates the competitive toughness and spatial awareness to find soft spots against zone coverage while possessing enough play strength to maintain positioning in tight quarters. His blocking grades reveal a willingness to contribute in the run game, though his technique needs refinement before he can be trusted as an every-down player in heavy personnel groupings.
The pathway to NFL success for Wells centers on scheme versatility and special teams value while he develops a more complete route tree. His combination of SEC experience, physical running style, and red zone capability offers day-three value for teams needing reliable depth. Despite lacking elite traits in any one area, Wells brings enough specialized skills and football character to carve out a meaningful role as a complementary piece who contributes beyond the box score through physical play and situational effectiveness.
Written By:
Wyatt Brooks (SEC)
Antwane Wells Jr. percentiles vs other Wide Receivers (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate Antwane Wells Jr. (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
215.2
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
31.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.