LaNorris Sellers inks NIL deal with iconic brand ahead of Gamecocks' apparel switch

South Carolina returning starting quarterback LaNorris Sellers has found himself with a new name, image and likeness deal. On Monday, the Gamecocks star signal-caller posted on Instagram that he has signed an "exclusive" deal with Nike. 

The move makes sense for both Sellers, who is projected as a potential top-10 pick in the 2027 NFL Draft, and Nike. It also comes at the perfect time, as the shoe and apparel giant is officially becoming South Carolina athletics' official uniform supplier and apparel outfitter beginning on July 1.

Previously, South Carolina was outfitted as an Under Armour school dating back to 2007, and the school's deal with them was set to expire June 30 and was not renewed. The Gamecocks were one of the last SEC schools to be paired with Under Armour, as Auburn switched to Nike in July 2025.  

It's unclear if other big-name South Carolina players such as EDGE rusher Dylan Stewart or wide receiver Nyck Harbor will also be getting Nike NIL deals. But landing Sellers is a great start for Nike, and there could be deals with other Gamecock athletes in the works. 

The rising redshirt junior had a breakout season for the Gamecocks as a freshman in 2024, throwing for 2,534 yards with 18 touchdowns, and rushing for another 674 yards with seven touchdowns. The Gamecocks finished 9-4 on the season, as well.  

But he regressed last season, rushing for a career-low 270 yards and taking 43 sacks during a 4-8 season in Columbia. But the quarterback enters 2026 with some sky-high expectations. South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer made some noise with his hire of new offensive coordinator Kendal Briles this offseason, and landed big-time offensive tackle Jaccarius Peak from the transfer portal. He is expected to have a big 2026 season good enough to catch the eye of several NFL coaches and scouts entering 2027.

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Nike's new deal with South Carolina for all sports, which is good for the next 10 years, is reportedly worth $77.5 million acoss each year. Under Armour had the first right of refusal when the school was in negotiations with Nike, but it did not match the deal, officially marking the switch to Nike for the Gamecocks.  From a report at the beginning of the 2025 college football season, Nike was the sponsor of 15 of the top 25 college football programs across the country.

Nike isn't the only company that has signed an NIL deal with the Florence, S.C. native. Sellers also has NIL deals with a local Columbia Mercedes-Benz dealership and Beats by Dre. On3Sports lists his NIL valuation at $2.7 million. This is likely Sellers' last season playing in college football, and Nike knows just how special his 2026 season could be.

Congrats to Sellers on getting his new deal with an apparel giant!  It is certainly well-deserved, and we'll see if any of his teammates make any similar anuncements ahead of the July 1 switch.

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