LaNorris Sellers, Cade Klubnik drawing comparisons ahead of South Carolina-Clemson matchup

South Carolina and Clemson have some glaringly obvious differences. For starters, one team’s primary colors are garnet and black, while the other’s are orange and purple. Both schools also compete in different conferences – the Gamecocks in the SEC, and the Tigers in the ACC.

But among the things South Carolina and Clemson have in common – which, there are at least a few – one sticks out compared to the others. That is the fact that the two team’s quarterbacks, LaNorris Sellers and Cade Klubnik, have played an important role in their respective offenses’ successes during the 2024 season.

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Sellers and Klubnik have their own fair share of differences, too – namely, that Sellers is a redshirt freshman, while Klubnik is a junior. But similarities in their respective styles of play have drawn comparisons ahead of South Carolina’s upcoming rivalry game against Clemson.

“Obviously, we have LaNorris on our team – that is a good comparison,” Clayton White said. “But, definitely, he’s (Cade) playing some really good football. And he’s got a lot of people that’s helping him look a lot better.”

Both signal callers are in the midst of their best seasons as college football players, combining for 5,735 yards of total offense and 56 scores this year.

Klubnik has been the steadier and more consistent contributor through the air, logging at least one touchdown pass in every game since Clemson’s 34-3 loss to Georgia in its season opener. Overall, he has completed 234 of 366 pass attempts (63.9%) for 2,761 yards, 29 touchdowns and four interceptions.

Sellers, on the other hand, has seen much of his production come as of late. Through his first four collegiate appearances, he threw more interceptions (three) than touchdowns (two) and did not register more than 170 passing yards in any of those contests. Sellers has eclipsed that single-game yardage total in every game since, including each of his four starts in November. He has played the best football of his young career during that month, where he has thrown for 1,142 yards and 14 touchdowns. Overall, Sellers has totaled 2,110 yards, 17 touchdowns, and six interceptions on 159-of-244 (65.2%) passing.

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Sellers’ and Klubnik’s skillsets are not just limited to generating offense through the air, though, as they both have proven they can create plays with their feet. Sellers has gained 489 yards and scored five touchdowns on 139 carries. Meanwhile, Klubnik has totaled 375 yards and five touchdowns on 82 rushing attempts. Both Sellers and Klubnik have found the end zone on rushes of 50 yards or longer this year.

Shane Beamer said the two quarterbacks’ abilities to escape pressure in the pocket is one of their most notable commonalities.

“LaNorris, obviously – it’s been well-written and talked about some of the sacks that he’s gotten out of. You could say the same thing about Cade, as well,” Beamer said. “There’s a lot of plays where he’s sacked and he comes out of there. And it’s not just coming out of there, it’s coming out of there and throwing a 50-yard touchdown pass.”

For Sellers, the most recent example of this phenomenon took place in the Gamecocks’ contest against Missouri. Facing a third-and-10 play near midfield with seven minutes remaining, Sellers dropped back in the pocket and saw incoming pressure from Johnny Walker. But as soon as Walker wrapped his arms around Sellers, he could not take him down. Sellers then broke free, scampered away from two more defenders and launched a pass to Brady Hunt for a first down.

Beamer recalled multiple plays this season where Klubnik has done something similar.

“He had one against Virginia Tech where they had him on the ground. He comes out of it (and) throws a touchdown pass down Virginia Tech’s right sideline,” Beamer said. “There’s one against Virginia where he gets out of it, rolls out and throws a deep ball down the left side to Virginia’s sideline. There’s one against Pitt where he gets out of there and runs for positive yardage. So, his ability to get himself out of trouble is really, really impressive.”

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Dual-threat tendencies are not the only similarity Sellers and Klubnik possess in their respective repertoires, Beamer said. He believes that both signal callers have also demonstrated growth and improvement as the season has gone along.

Beamer, with his staff, followed Sellers’ recruiting process from its inception as South Carolina’s head coach. But Beamer also has recruiting ties to Klubnik, dating back to his days at Oklahoma.

“You see that development, just like LaNorris, and (I) think a lot of him,” Beamer said. “I got to know him in high school when I was coaching at Oklahoma and Austin, Texas was my recruiting area. (We) recruited him, and we had him up to a couple games in Norman from down there in Austin. (I) think a lot of him as a person and enjoy you know watching him play.”

Sellers and Klubnik are set to face off for the first time in their careers on Saturday. And the 121st edition of the Palmetto Bowl will ultimately be a game decided by more than one player’s actions.

Beamer understands, though, that quarterback play on both sides will be key in determining a winner.

“Obviously, LaNorris and what he’s been able to do in the run game speaks for itself. (He) needs to be a weapon for us, as well,” Beamer said during his weekly teleconference on Sunday. “Certainly with Clemson, Cade is a great athlete. (He) showed that last year, showed that last week at Pittsburgh when he had that long run to win the game. And something that already I’ve already talked to the defense about when we met today is doing a good job of handling his athleticism.”

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