South Carolina football fans are sad to see Spencer Rattler go to the NFL this offseason. Despite a less-than-ideal situation around him, #7 had a really good season in 2023, putting up numbers that place him among the best quarterbacks to ever wear the Block C on their helmets.
However, as brilliant as Spencer Rattler was, there is a strange buzz of excitement floating through the air in Gamecock Nation that has only grown as the Gamecocks work through spring practice.
The expected starter for next season is rising redshirt freshman LaNorris Sellers, and Carolina fans almost universally believe that Sellers will be the next great quarterback to play for the Gamecocks.
There's plenty to like about Sellers: he is a smart kid who possesses above-average ability both with his arm and with his legs, and his goggles/rec specs are an extremely recognizable accessory that fans have embraced.
The Gamecocks have added walk-on Davis Beville and former Oregon and Auburn dual-threat Robby Ashford through the transfer portal. Some (incorrectly) have taken that as a lack of confidence from South Carolina football coach Shane Beamer and his staff. If Sellers shows he's ready to be the man this fall, he will be given every opportunity to be the starter.
So, should Carolina fans be confident in LaNorris Sellers as the Gamecock starter in 2024? There are six BIG reasons to believe in the bespectacled signal-caller.
6 Reasons LaNorris Sellers is ready to be QB1 for South Carolina Football:
No. 1 The Gifts
The first reason why fans shouldn't worry about LaNorris Sellers is his physical talent.
Sellers is a physical freak. Coming into last season at 6'3" and 245 pounds, he reportedly ran 40-yard dash times in the high 4.4-range, clocked a short shuttle time of less than 4.3, and was described by NFL-bound tight end Trey Knox as being able to "flick his wrist and throw the ball over 60 yards." There are not too many players on the planet that truthfully can claim all of that.
Sellers displayed his speed and power as a runner against Vanderbilt this past season as he exploded to the edge, ran through a tackle from an upperclassman safety, and then strode away from the Commodore defense. The 36-yard touchdown should be a sign of future success for him on the ground.
His arm strength is effortless, so it still feels like Gamecock fans haven't gotten to see yet just how powerful of a thrower he can be. Nonetheless, on just his second career pass attempt, Sellers uncorked a smooth 60-yard strike that hit fellow freshman Tyshawn Russell in stride.
There's no doubt that Sellers' physical tools are up to par with what is needed to compete in the SEC.
6 Reasons LaNorris Sellers is ready to be QB1 for South Carolina Football:
No. 2 Spencer Rattler
LaNorris Sellers had the unique gift of spending his true freshman season behind Spencer Rattler in 2023.
Not only is Rattler a solid comparison for Sellers' arm, but he was a great example of a leader and team captain for Sellers to emulate. #7 was running for his life most of the 2023 campaign, and according to offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Dowell Loggains, the quarterback never complained even behind closed doors. Instead, he was his teammates' biggest encourager.
Despite some unfair criticism dating back to his days in high school, Spencer Rattler was an excellent teammate and was extremely coachable during his time in Columbia. Everything that South Carolina football fans have gotten to see from LaNorris Sellers indicates that he is the same type of young man and player.
Rattler was also groomed from high school to become an NFL quarterback, meaning that he developed a tremendous work ethic and has received impressive training. Plenty of Rattler's habits and behaviors are worthy of imitation for Sellers.
The freshman got to watch some good quarterback play on the field, as well. Rattler was very good in 2023, and despite poor pass protection and almost no run game support, he was able to make things happen for the Gamecocks. His "unscripted" ability to extend plays was a big reason why.
The running game should be drastically improved in 2024 after the transfer portal helped flip the running back room and the offensive line gets healthier, but Sellers' physical abilities will allow him to mirror Rattler's improvisation and ability to move in the pocket to find a running lane or to extend a play for a pass. Theoretically, he will do it even better as a bigger and faster athlete than his predecessor.
If Sellers picks up on a lot of Rattler-esque traits and combines that with his elite athleticism, the Gamecocks will have a special player on their hands.
6 Reasons LaNorris Sellers is ready to be QB1 for South Carolina Football:
No. 3 His Brain
Lanorris Sellers is a smart guy off of the football field.
He reportedly flirted with a 5.0 GPA while in high school (meaning he was enrolled in and excelled in some advanced classes), and any time he speaks, he comes across as a very intelligent person. Sure, intelligence doesn't necessarily translate to football IQ, but it certainly helps.
He also is smart on the football field, though.
When speaking about his Sellers' first touchdown pass and first rushing touchdown, offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains remarked about how the two plays went a little differently than designed, something that Sellers has since confirmed.
His long passing touchdown against Furman was meant to be a one or two-read play to the left side of the field. However, Sellers felt that he had more time to let the play develop, allowing for Tyshawn Russell to get to the end zone. Even before the remarkable throw, Sellers showed off some impressive quarterback play with his brain.
The rushing touchdown against Vanderbilt was similar. The play did have a read, but in that game situation, the coaching staff expected Sellers just to hand the ball off and avoid taking a hit. Instead, Sellers saw the defensive end from Vandy shuffle down toward the back, so he pulled the ball and took off. 36 yards later, he had his first career rushing touchdown.
The comfortability as a freshman to look off defenders is rare, but Sellers has it. This throw against Furman, while a little behind receiver Payton Mangrum, demonstrates this skill for #16 as he gave a look to his two receivers on the left side of the field, gave a subtle glance back to the right, and then found Mangrum across the middle after things opened up a bit.
Sellers has an elite body, but he also has an elite brain.
6 Reasons LaNorris Sellers is ready to be QB1 for South Carolina Football:
No. 4 Advanced Mechanics
Most true freshmen quarterbacks, especially ones who ran the ball a lot in high school, have some serious holes in their throwing mechanics. That is not the case for LaNorris Sellers.
Sellers has a smooth and repeatable throwing motion. This is true both on short throws and deep balls, and touch passes and velocity-infused bullets all look the same coming out of his hand.
Even a year ago during practice for the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas, Sellers already had a consistent throwing motion and his feet were steady.
Good mechanics don't make Sellers a rigid passer, though. Like his predecessor Rattler, he has the ability to get his feet underneath him at almost any point during a play, allowing him to throw powerfully and accurately without a big load up.
Again like Rattler, he can throw off-platform and on the run, too, meaning that when it is impossible to square his feet, he can still make big-time throws. There are "good mechanics" to making difficult throws, as well, and Sellers already has them.
His first collegiate pass attempt, a 10-yard completion to Eddie Lewis against Furman, demonstrates his ability to put the ball where he wants to put it, even while on the move.
The kid has all the makings of eventual legend in garnet and black.
6 Reasons LaNorris Sellers is ready to be QB1 for South Carolina Football:
No. 5 He's A Winner
LaNorris Sellers isn't just a talented player who put up solid stats in high school; he is a winner.
After missing much of his junior year with an injury to his non-throwing arm, Sellers led his South Florence Bruins to an undefeated 15-0 state championship season in 2022. He put up absurd stats in his final year of high school, including 62 total touchdowns to just 2 interceptions.
When honored by his state as a representative of South Carolina in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas, Sellers led the Sandlappers to a victory over their northern border rivals (complete with a late, game-winning touchdown drive) and was named the game's MVP.
This past spring, a few months after he graduated from high school early, Sellers was selected as the South Carolina Football Hall of Fame Bridge Builder Excellence Award recipient for his excellence on the field, off the field, and as a leader.
Sellers is a hard worker with a strong desire to excel, traits every major quarterback has to have to succeed at the highest level.
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.