The South Carolina Gamecocks are entering a hugely important season in 2026. Following a 4-8 season, head coach Shane Beamer is hoping that both his new additions on the coaching staff and roster will mesh well with key returning stars in Columbia.Â
One of those key returning players is quarterback LaNorris Sellers. Despite entering the 2025 season with some NFL Draft buzz, Sellers is returning to the Gamecocks hoping to have his best season yet with South Carolina.Â
But Sellers had a down season in 2025. He threw for less yards (2,437) and had the fewest rushing yards (270) of his career. He was also sacked a career-high 43 times, which limited him as the season wore on.Â
But the signal-caller is still expected to be one of the biggest quarterback names in the 2027 NFL Draft. On Tuesday, ESPN released its top prospects to know in the class, and Sellers is one of the prominent names mentioned:Â
"He has a great feel for the trajectory and touch on long passes and can 'drop it in the bucket' when attacking downfield," ESPN's Jordan Reid writes. "His compact release helps him fire the ball into condensed windows in the intermediate areas of the field. He's also a game changer on designed QB runs and scrambles. Though he didn't have the best 2025 season (2,437 passing yards, 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions), his traits and potential are still major selling points."
Reid also notes that him being sacked so many times resulted in Sellers looking "stiff and too programmed last season." Under new offensive coordinator Kendal Briles, Sellers is expected to thrive. Briles has coached the likes of Josh Hoover at TCU, K.J. Jefferson at Arkansas and James Blackman at Florida State.Â
Sellers' name was included in Reid's article alongside big names in Arch Manning from Texas, Miami's Darian Mensah, Oklahoma State's Drew Mestmaker, Oregon's Dante Moore and Ohio State's Julian Sayin. Â
The Florence, S.C. native had a career-best season as a redhsirt freshman in 2024, throwing for 2,534 yards with 18 touchdowns and just severn interceptions, adding another 674 rush yards with seven scores on the ground.
The Gamecocks also added big-time offensive tackle Jacarrius Peak from the transfer portal via NC State, which should help tremendously from a protection standpoint. Obviously whether or not he is worthy of his NFL buzz he is generating will depend on how his 2026 season goes, but it's clear that draft pundits already like his outlook heading into the season.
Sellers and the Gamecocks open the 2026 season at home against Kent State on Sept. 5.
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