LaNorris Sellers assesses own performance after 1st collegiate start at quarterback
Hype and high expectations have followed LaNorris Sellers well before he committed to South Carolina. Those expectations only rose after Shane Beamer formally announced on Aug. 20 that Sellers would be the Gamecocks’ starting quarterback for their season opener against Old Dominion.
Eleven days after that announcement, Sellers made his first collegiate start against the Monarchs. Unfortunately for him – and South Carolina’s offense as a whole – that start did not go to plan.
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And Sellers, who broke down his performance after the Gamecocks’ 23-19 win, was the first person to say it was an example of how no one’s development is linear.
“It’s not as easy as you might think it is. You’ve just got to prepare the right way,” Sellers said. “I need to get better just being patient, just being myself, just being confident.”
On a night where South Carolina ran the ball 56 total times, Sellers was heavily involved in the Gamecocks’ ground attack. Sellers netted 68 yards on 22 carries, one of which scored what ultimately would be the game-winning touchdown.
“We had the game design to go out there and run the ball. Just the way they play defense, it was going to be open,” Sellers said. “Then, I had a couple of scrambles in there, but it was part of the game plan.”
But it was his involvement in the passing game that contributed the most to his struggles. Overall, Sellers completed 10 of his 23 passes for 114 yards. Despite making multiple deep throws, his longest pass was a 41-yard completion to Vandrevius Jacobs in the third quarter.
Sellers said developing rapport with his wide receivers is something he must improve upon as the season progresses.
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“Yeah, I missed a couple of guys, I will say. (I) just got to keep practicing (and) keep getting better. Build chemistry with those guys and come back next week better.”
Some of Sellers’ shortcomings could have been credited to early first start jitters, too. Through one quarter, his passing yardage total was negative (-3 yards) and four of his five pass attempts were incompletions. A fumble he lost early in the second quarter also could have rattled his confidence.
But Sellers said he remained calm and poised throughout the game, preventing himself from being deterred.
“I just try not to show it really, because you still have to lead the team, you still have to go in the next drive, no matter what happens,” Sellers said. “I know if I fumble, I’ve still got to go in the next drive and keep pushing through. You can’t let it get to you. You’ve always got to have a next play mentality.”
While Sellers’ initial start was far from what he expected there was a silver lining – Gamecock fans, who came in droves to Williams-Brice Stadium to not only sell out the contest, but create an atmosphere that included the largest crowd Old Dominion had ever played in front of in program history.
“It’s exciting for me, as well. Our fans always have good turnout. (I) appreciate them sticking with us through the lightning delay. It’s always exciting to run out to 2001, the fans, just hearing the ‘Go Gamecocks,'” Sellers said. “Stuff like that, it’s always good to hear.”
