He was the first in a long line of All-Americans to come out of Massillon Washington High School, and was one of the pioneers of the forward pass.

[5] Massillon's Washington High School has produced more than ten All-Americans, with Wells being the first and others including Harry Stuhldreher, Ed Molinski, Lin Houston, Chris Spielman, and Coach Paul Brown.

At the time of the induction ceremony, Wells (who was in his 70s) was unable to attend but wrote a letter that was published in the Massillon newspaper.

After all the fall of 1906 is a far piece back, and high school football then was a mighty casual and simple thing.

That was my senior year and I was a ‘new boy’, having just moved to Massillon that summer from the wide open spaces of South Dakota, Wyoming and Nebraska.

The first day at school several of my classmates came around to suggest that of course I was coming out for football; and although I protested that I had never had a ball in my hands, they countered with the argument that I was a good sized lump of a boy and would make a fine prospect.

I think the athletic association must have had some football pants, but I do remember distinctly that you had to furnish your own stockings (any color) and an old sweater.

But he was out there every afternoon, early and late teaching us fundamentals instead of fancy razzle-dazzle plays, and in the end it paid off because we won a few games.

I can’t remember who we beat, but I do recall, painfully even after this lapse of time, that our friends over at the county seat (Canton, Ohio) took us to the cleaners twice.”[6] After graduating from high school in Massillon, Wells went north to play for Coach Fielding H. Yost at the University of Michigan.

Instantly the small Michigan rooting contingent rose as one man and cheered until their voices failed.

"[12] Wells drew national attention for his performance in Michigan's final game of the season, a 6-0 win over Minnesota.

'Stan' (Wells) ran backwards and threw far and true to Borleske, who was thirty yards down the field before a Swede tackled him.

"[14] A wire service account picked up in newspapers across the country described the events this way: "Wells, whose name is written large tonight, ran out and sent the ball straight to Borleske.

Wells found a hole at left tackle, and although the enemy fell upon him furiously, they were too late, for he twisted across the line and emerged a hero.

"[15][16][17] Harold Titus of The Detroit News wrote that "the forward pass and terrible determination" won the Minnesota game for Michigan.

Give him 11 men, big or little, short or tall, thin or fat, and if every last one of them could and would block and tackle, he would guarantee to go out and beat any time in the country, every Saturday afternoon for an entire season.

"[4] In 1914, Wells published a chapter in "The Book of Athletics" providing details and advice on playing the end position in football.