Sometimes, it is hard to believe that LaNorris Sellers was just a three-star recruit coming out of high school. In the 2024 college football season, Sellers burst out onto the scene as the Gamecocks new starter under center, and while he started a little slow, he found his way into a Heisman conversation he was nowhere near at the beginning of the season.
As a redshirt freshman, Sellers dazzled fans, his coaching staff, and opposing coaching staff, and now it sounds like he has already gotten the attention of some higher-ups in the NFL.
Even though Sellers is getting ready to head into just his second season as a starter, the body of work he put out on the field in 2024 was truly impressive. One anonymous NFL GM spoke with Gamecocks on SI at the NFL Combine and had young praise, not just for Sellers but the South Carolina coaching staff.
"I've been really impressed with that coaching staff's ability to develop their young quarterback," the NFL GM told Gamecocks on SI.
Now, Sellers will face something he has yet to in his college career, and that is the changing of some on the coaching staff. The offensive coordinator for the Gamecocks last season, Dowell Loggains, accepted the head coaching position at Appalachian State in December of 2024, leaving USC without a playcaller.
Head coach Shane Beamer made quick work of filling the position with someone from inside the program's building, elevating Mike Shula. Shula comes into the position with loads of experience from college football to the NFL.
Sellers will have to figure out how to work with a new offensive coordinator, but the transition should be smoother since Shula and Sellers worked together last year when he was an offensive analyst.
If Sellers can put together a season like he did in the second half of the 2024 season in 2025, he could look into heading to the NFL early based on his projected draft position. If NFL executives are already taking notice, they certainly will be awaiting his decision after next season. Sellers have an opportunity to lead their team to a College Football Playoff appearance and then book their ticket to the NFL.