South Carolina football quarterbacks learn who will start week 1, plus a walk-on earns a scholarship

The worst-kept secret around the South Carolina football program is no longer "secret."

On Tuesday, Gamecock head coach Shane Beamer spoke to the media after practice and announced that redshirt freshman quarterback LaNorris Sellers will be the team's starter on August 31st when the Old Dominion Monarchs come to Columbia for the season opener. Robby Ashford battled well for the job, and there is a good chance he sees the field some this year, but Sellers has been "the guy" since spring ball.

Sellers saw some time in mop-up duty in 2023 and came into the game for some short-yardage running opportunities against Kentucky. Now, he will be USC's primary quarterback.

At 6'3" and over 240 pounds, LaNorris Sellers is a load to bring down, and his sprint speed (he's been clocked in the upper 4.4s in the 40-yard dash) means he has freakish athleticism for the quarterback position. He's also got a strong arm as he uncorked a dart to fellow freshman Tyshawn Russell last season against Furman that traveled 60 yards in the air and was described by former tight end Trey Knox as a guy who could "just flick his wrist and throw it over 60 yards."

If reports out of Columbia have been accurate and Sellers' mental makeup is as impressive as his physical abilities, the Gamecocks could have their next great quarterback in the form of the bespectacled #16.

That wasn't the only quarterback-related news that broke on Tuesday, however. During his time in front of the media, Beamer also revealed that senior Davis Beville, who walked on after transferring to Columbia from the Oklahoma Sooners, is now on scholarship. Beville, a Palmetto State native, is expected to be the 3rd quarterback on the depth chart heading into the opener.

The only updated injury news from Beamer was that cornerback Emory Floyd has a minor "lower-body issue," and offensive tackle Aaryn Parks has an ankle injury. Floyd is expected to be available to play next Saturday, while Parks is not.