When national opinions like ESPN's Rece Davis start tossing around player comparisons, it usually comes from a place of high praise. And make no mistake, Davis certainly meant what he said about South Carolina star quarterback LaNorris Sellers as a compliment when he compared Sellers to former Alabama QB Jalen Hurts. "But there’s so much – and I’m not the first to make this comparison. There’s so much Jalen Hurts in LaNorris Sellers,” said Davis.
But here's the thing: LaNorris Sellers doesn't need a comparison to anyone. He isn't retracing anyone's steps. Sellers is forging his own path. He is writing his own story in college football history.
Davis also put Sellers at No. 4 on his list of the top quarterbacks in college football heading into the 2025 season, and Gamecock Nation will take that love all day long. But Sellers doesn't need to be the next Jale Hurts. He just needs to be LaNorris Sellers, the 6-foot-3, 240-pound powerhouse who helped push the playoff conversation for South Carolina last year. The one that made defenders miss, the one who takes command of the huddle like a seasoned vet, which is exactly what he's becoming.
Yes, the upcoming schedule for the Gamecocks is brutal, which is rarely appreciated for the underrated team. And South Carolina will need more than just one star to reach the College Football Playoff. But make no mistake: if the Gamecocks can cross the threshold, it will be because No. 16 is playing his brand of college football, not someone's else's.
While the talking heads love to throw comparisons around to start the discussion, Gamecock Nation knows how to ignore the noise. Because there's only one LaNorris Sellers, and he is just getting started.