Wells attended South Park High School in South Park, Pennsylvania, where he lettered in basketball and football. In football, as a senior, he was an All-League defensive end and helped lead his team to the League title. He was also an integral member of the 1997 team that captured the PIAA AA State Championship.
College career
At Clarion University, Wells was a four-year starter, garnering two NCAA Division II All-America honors, and was a two-time All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference choice.