For South Carolina, the expectations are high surrounding the Gamecocks on offense. Sixth-year head coach Shane Beamer hired former TCU and Arkansas offensive coordinator Kendal Brils this offseason.
But the reason South Carolina is expected to have a bounce-back season is thanks to the return of quarterback LaNorris Sellers. The redshirt junior had a down season last year, throwing for 2,437 yards with 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He was sacked a career-high 42 sacks, and had a career-low 270 yards rushing with five scores. He looked completely out of sorts, far from the breakout season he had in 2024.
But in a new interview with On3 Sports' Chris Low, Sellers said he never even once considered entering the portal. He added that South Carolina is home for him, and he is eager to finish what he started.
NEW: South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers tells @Clowfb he never considered the portal and is ready for a reset under new OC Kendal Briles:
— On3 (@On3) August 31, 2026
"Nope, not at all. This is where I grew up, right here in South Carolina. I was going to finish what I started."
Exclusive:… pic.twitter.com/5qIFJc019G
Sellers, who has been at South Carolina since 2023, could have easily entered the transfer portal after the down season he had last year. Given how easy it is for quarterbacks to enter the portal and start elsewhere, most college football quarterbacks these days would have done so after the season Sellers had in 2025.
In a college football era that rewards quarterbacks entering the portal and starting at new schools, it's incredibly refreshing to hear Sellers have the complete opposite take. There's no question that Sellers likely received a ton of interest from teams needing a big-time quarterback this offseason. This season alone, power-conference teams like Miami, Indiana, LSU and all utilizing transfer portal signal-callers in Darian Mesah, Josh Hoover and Sam Leavitt.
In today's era with huge NIL contracts, fans can make the argument that loyalty to your hometown school no longer exists. But Sellers wanting to finish and have a huge season where he started his career three years ago with the Gamecocks truly makes him one of one.
At SEC Media Days in July, Sellers explained why he had no desire to go elsewhere in 2026.
"It's just a matter of like starting over," Sellers said. "I built these relationships got to know these guys, these coaches and all that. There's no need for me to go somewhere else that's not home for me, where I can go for a year and, like you said, enter the portal. There's no point in that. Stay here, learn the system, be consistent with the system and these guys."
Sellers is a native of Florence, S.C., which sits over 80 miles east of Columbia. His younger brother, Jayden Sellers, is also on his team, although he just suffered a season-ending injury.
He also spoke about South Carolina being home for him:
"It's home for me."
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) July 21, 2026
South Carolina QB LaNorris Sellers shares why he decided to return as third-year starter 🤞 pic.twitter.com/LjbkEAMdNj
Sellers is expected to have his best season in Columbia, playing behind a rebuilt offensive line. He is anticipated to be much more comfortable in Briles' system, as well.
It would only be fitting for him to have the best season of his Gamecock career in 2026 after everything he's given to the program.
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