LaNorris Sellers faces newfound expectations as South Carolina leader heading into 2025 season

Coming into the 2024 season, many within the media ranked South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers at the bottom of the rankings of starting SEC quarterbacks. 

After one season as the Gamecock’s starter under center, Sellers has positioned himself as an early Heisman candidate for 2025. 

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Sellers enters his second year as the South Carolina starter as one of the highest potential quarterbacks in the nation. The FWAA Freshman of the Year threw for 2,534 yards in his redshirt freshman campaign. Sellers also threw for 18 touchdowns through the air and ran for seven on the ground. 

It’s a vastly different reality to the one Sellers faced coming into last season, head coach Shane Beamer said on 107.5 The Game.

“Here’s a guy that, last year at this time, nobody was really talking about,” Beamer said. “If you looked at some of those preseason rankings of quarterbacks, most of them I think had him 16th in the league going into last season. Now, it’s the complete opposite.”

Sellers’ name really broke onto the scene in the back-half of the 2024 season. In his first six games as a starter, he did not throw for more than 238 yards in a single game. In the final six, he threw for over that number in all but one game.

Those improved efforts earned Sellers a Davey O’Brien Co-Quarterback of the Week honor after Texas A&M. Sellers threw for 244 yards alongside two touchdowns in the upset win that night. He also rushed for 106 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

Seller’s performances in 2024 have already had the quarterback go down in Gamecock history. His 16-yard game-winning touchdown rush against Clemson proves just that.

However, It’s his potential at quarterback that has Beamer excited about the future of his South Carolina team.

“I told them I’m excited because anytime you have a quarterback, you’ve got a chance to be successful,” Beamer said. “And we certainly have a quarterback in him. The great news is he’s just scratching the surface.”

Beamer said the attention is something Sellers does not let get to his head.

“The great news is he’s such a great young man. He’s got a great humility about himself. He’s hungry and driven to work and get better,” Beamer said. “His life has certainly changed in the last year just in regards to how recognizable he is and what he’s accomplished. He’s got a great family and support system around him, for sure.”

Sellers efforts have not only awarded him national attention. Sellers also became the first freshman in school history named a Rex Enright team captain. 

“He continued to get better as the season went on last year, and he’s just going to continue to get better throughout this offseason into 2025,” Beamer said. “Really fired up to see what’s next for LaNorris and how he continues to grow as a quarterback and football player.” 

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Seller’s potential has him compared by many to 2010 Heisman winner Cam Newton. His similarities extend to who is leading him on the field. 

South Carolina recently promoted senior assistant Mike Shula to offensive coordinator after the departure of Dowell Loggains to App. State.

Beamer said the relationship Shula and Sellers have is something he really likes with the way they have worked together. 

Shula led Newton as his offensive coordinator during Newton’s NFL MVP season with the Carolina Panthers. 

“Maybe there’s some things that we did back there with Cam that maybe we haven’t done in a while that might fit here with LaNorris,” Shula said in December. 

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