Could LaNorris Sellers be QB1 in next year's draft? 'His best tape is better than everybody else's best tape' says Todd McShay
The 2025 draft is barely in the books, but that hasn’t stopped the NFL media from already looking ahead to 2026, and South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers has landed squarely in their crosshairs.
The 2026 NFL quarterback class is expected to be one of the most loaded in recent memory, but the Gamecocks’ redshirt sophomore signal-caller is still in the middle of conversations about which quarterback will go first.
NFL Draft expert Todd McShay has Sellers going No. 4 overall in next year’s draft in the way-too-early mock he put out this week.
The veteran analyst has LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier going first overall with Sellers as the second QB taken. But McShay questioned on his podcast this week why more people aren’t talking about the Florence, S.C. native.
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“I’m keeping a close eye on this guy this year because his best tape is better than everybody else’s best tape,” McShay said. “That includes Garrett Nussmeier and Garrett Nussmeier’s best tape is pretty d*** good. That includes Drew Allar, who I’m not quite as high on as everybody else seems to be. It’s better than Cade Klubnik‘s.
“But this guy’s best tape is better than everybody else’s. I love when things break down, bullets are flying — yes, the decision making can sometimes be erratic, footwork’s got to improve and be more consistent — but when things break down and get crazy, that’s when something special comes out.”
McShay has those four quarterbacks as the only QBs going in the first round, though it’s worth noting that his mock does not project Texas’ Arch Manning or Tennessee-turned-UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava going pro in 2026.
McShay’s co-host Steve Muench also praised Sellers.
“You know I love him,” Muench said. “When you see him at his best, he’s unstoppable. He’s a great runner when he takes off. Strong arm. Built well. Can handle the physical beating he’s going to take at quarterback and shake off some sacks, moves around very well. Some decision making needs to be better, he misses on some throws. I thought there were some drops that hurt him last year too. Good player. A guy I think again has got a really good chance to be in the mix.”
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The SEC Freshman of the Year in 2024, Sellers completed 196-of-299 passes for 2,534 yards, 18 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He was also second on the team in rushing with 166 carries for 674 yards and seven touchdowns.
As McShay mentioned on the podcast episode, this time last year, Cam Ward was projected to be a fifth-rounder while Shedeur Sanders and Quinn Ewers were expected to be the first two quarterbacks selected.
Fast forward a year later and Ward was the No. 1 overall pick while Sanders famously slipped to the fifth and Ewers fell to the seventh.
A lot can happen in 12 months, and Sellers, like all the quarterbacks being discussed, will have to continue to develop. But it’s a great sign for him and for the Gamecocks that he’s in the conversation for QB1.
