CBS analyst ranks South Carolina's LaNorris Sellers top 5 nationally in QB power rankings
South Carolina football fans have witnessed something special in recent weeks. Not only have their Gamecocks won four games in a row (including three ranked victories), but the team’s redshirt freshman quarterback has emerged as a star. LaNorris Sellers showed brilliant flashes during the first half of the season, but something has clicked during the winning streak.
In victories over Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt, and Missouri, Sellers has averaged over 300 yards of offense, has accounted for 11 total touchdowns, and has thrown just one interception. No. 16 has scored multiple touchdowns three consecutive weeks and has completed 70% of his passes in back-to-back weeks. It should be no surprise that he has won SEC Freshman of the Week honors twice and picked up multiple National Player of the Week selections following his stellar showing against the Missouri Tigers this past weekend.
[GamecockCentral: $1 for 7 days and 50% off first year]
Sellers’ strong play has caught the attention of national college football voices. CBS Sports’ Tom Fornelli publishes weekly quarterback power rankings, and the Gamecock star has been featured prominently lately.
In his latest update, Fornelli ranks Sellers 5th in all of college football, a one-spot jump from last week.
Per Fornelli: “After the big performance against Vanderbilt last week, I wrote that if Sellers developed into an efficient passer, the SEC was in a lot of trouble. Well, against Missouri, he completed 70% of his passes for 353 yards and five touchdowns. He averaged 11.8 yards per attempt! On 30 attempts!”
Top 10
- 1New
Tom Brady helped land QB
Michigan got assist on Underwood
- 2
Rhett Lashlee
SMU coach gets extension
- 3
Justin Fields
OSU legend to make CGD picks
- 4Hot
Bryce Underwood
Michigan flips No. 1 QB Bryce Underwood from LSU
- 5
Iron Bowl
Early odds out on Bama vs. Auburn
Following Sellers’ Superman impression against Missouri, Fornelli also referred to him as “LaNorris Football,” an obvious reference to the sack-avoidance wizardry of former Heisman Trophy-winner Johnny Manziel who was known as “Johnny Football.”
[On3 App: Get South Carolina push notifications from GamecockCentral]
Sellers has been a revelation for a Gamecock offense that seemed dead in the water after a 3-3 start. In Carolina’s last four games, the offense has posted its three box scores against Power Conference competition, in terms of both total yardage and yards-per-play. During that stretch, Sellers and company logged three of their four games this year with at least four offensive touchdowns.
The USC resurgence is due, in large part, to their young quarterback. If Shane Beamer’s team is to continue playing at a high level, LaNorris Sellers will be key. The Gamecocks have at least three games remaining before attention turns to 2025.
For South Carolina to finish the 2024 season strong (a 10-win season is within reach), that must begin this weekend. The Gamecocks and Wofford Terriers will meet inside a sold-out Williams-Brice Stadium for a 4:00 p.m. kick. The contest is available on ESPN+ and SEC Network+.
