South Carolina Football: As spring practice rolls along, 6 reasons why LaNorris Sellers is ready to be QB1
By Kevin Miller
6 Reasons LaNorris Sellers is ready to be QB1 for South Carolina Football:
No. 6 Coaching
The South Carolina football coaching staff could be a big influence on LaNorris Sellers' success in 2024.
Any coaching for Sellers has to start with his quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator, Dowell Loggains. Outgoing starter Spencer Rattler speaks glowing of Loggains and how he made Rattler feel comfortable as a college quarterback while preparing him for the NFL. Sellers should be the beneficiary of the same benefits that Rattler received playing under Loggains.
Loggains' experience coaching in the NFL (nearly 15 years, all spent with quarterbacks and some spent as offensive coordinator) will be invaluable for Sellers' development as a passer and processor. His time at Arkansas working with an offense led by KJ Jefferson (a similar style quarterback to Sellers) and Rocket Sanders (who transferred to Carolina this offseason) will help the redshirt freshman, too.
Loggains will also have former NFL quarterback, long-time professional quarterbacks coach, and former Alabama head coach Mike Shula on staff as an analyst assisting him in coaching Sellers.
The return home to Columbia for Shawn Elliott seems to indicate that the zone read and other quarterback run game options could be a much bigger part of the South Carolina offense in 2024, playing right into Sellers' abilities. Elliott's experience as a head coach of a quarterback run-heavy system and his time as an offensive line coach should help the Gamecocks' approach in the run game in 2024, as well.
Even bringing in new position coaches like Mike Furrey (wide receivers) and Marquel Blackwell (running backs) should be a net positive for Sellers as the Gamecocks were woefully bad at running back in 2023 outside of Mario Anderson and almost as bad at wide receiver other than Xavier Legette. Improving those position rooms can do nothing but help a young quarterback.
Loggains and the rest of the offensive coaching staff should help prepare Sellers to be a very good starting quarterback for the South Carolina football program.