1909 season After graduating from high school in Massillon, Wells went north to play for Coach
Fielding H. Yost at the
University of Michigan. In 1909, he started seven games at
right tackle on at team that was 6–1, outscored opponents 115–34, and lost its only game to
Notre Dame, 11–3.
1910 season In 1910, Michigan went 3–0–3 and Wells started the first three games at right tackle and the final three at right end. According to the 1911 Michiganensian yearbook, Wells “started out as a tackle but was shifted to end, and here he so distinguished himself in the last three games, that he was Camp’s other selection for the honorary team.” In December 1910, two Wolverines, Wells and
Albert Benbrook, were named first-team All-Americans by
Walter Camp. Penn was the only other school with two players on Camp’s 1910 All-American team. In the second to last game of the 1910 season, a scoreless tie with the
University of Pennsylvania, Wells made his second start as an end. It appeared Wells had scored the winning touchdown, but the play was called back. The 1911 Michiganensian described the play this way: "'Shorty' McMillan sent 'Stan' Wells down the side lines. Then the Michigan team opened up and Bill Edmunds was given the ball. Bill stepped back and sent a beautiful long pass to 'Stan' Wells. The pigskin came sailing through the air on a perfect line, Wells grabbed it and ran for a touchdown. Instantly the small Michigan rooting contingent rose as one man and cheered until their voices failed. Then Umpire Crowell asked for the ball. It was handed him, and he walked back to where it had been put in play and told the Michiganders to start anew. Wells had stepped out of bounds for an instant, just as he received the ball."
The 1910 Little Brown Jug game Wells drew national attention for his performance in Michigan's final game of the season, a 6–0 win over Minnesota. That game secured the Western Conference championship for Michigan, and Wells was credited with the win after he led a fourth quarter drive and scored the winning touchdown with three minutes remaining. In selecting Wells to his All-American team, Camp credited Wells with Michigan's win over Minnesota, saying that “had it not been for Wells, Michigan would have failed of its victory.” He said that Wells “practically alone and unaided” won the championship game against Minnesota. According to newspaper accounts, and a lengthy account of the game in the 1911 Michiganensian yearbook, the game was a scoreless tie late in the fourth quarter. Michigan took possession at the forty-yard line with 60 yards to go for a touchdown. The Michiganensian described the game-winning drive this way: "With the sun already far down in the West, . . . and the ball in Michigan's possession, sixty yards from Minnesota’s goal, the unexpected did take place. 'Shorty' McMillan signaled for a forward pass. . . . 'Stan' (Wells) ran backwards and threw far and true to Borleske, who was thirty yards down the field before a Swede tackled him. Minnesota was slightly worried. Thirty yards on one play, and it seemed certain that Michigan would now try some old football. Instead, 'Shorty' called for the same play and again Wells threw true to Borleske, who was tackled on the Gopher two yard line. Minnesota, desperate, tried to check the onslaught, but it was like trying to turn a freshet from its course. Wells hit the line but was thrown back. Again the auburned lad struck the line. Minnesota blocked his path. 'Stan' twisted slightly and slipped between two men. When the officials separated the men, the ball was on the far side of the Gopher goal line." 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. The crowd cheered itself hoarse, for this was one of the few successful forward passes of the game and it had netted twenty-six yards. Michigan lined up quickly. The same play was hardly to be expected so soon, and in exactly the same way. Yet, that was the strategy. Wells ran to the sideline as before and threw diagonally down the field as before to Borleske. Michigan now had four yards to go. Every spectator on his feet, the Minnesota crowd crying, 'hold,' 'hold.' It was a serious moment for both sides, and they took time to breathe and collect themselves for the supreme effort. Wells was hurled against center, but the whole Minnesota team got into the defense and stopped the play about where it had started. The next attack was deceptive. 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. Ann Arbor is his private property tonight, as well as the rest of collegiate Michigan." Harold Titus of
The Detroit News wrote that "the forward pass and terrible determination" won the Minnesota game for Michigan. Of Wells' touchdown, Titus wrote: “Stanfield Wells was Michigan’s last hope. Once he tried the line and the Gopher, snarling, checked him. Again he tried it and this time his thudding feet sounded the death of Minnesota’s hopes and carried to the ears of his fellow team players the clang of victory.” Speaking in 1964, Wells recalled the words of his old coach: "I have heard my old coach at Ann Arbor,
Fielding H. Yost say it a dozen times. 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." ==Later years==