Live from Columbia, South Carolina, all eyes are on Gamecocks’ QB1 LaNorris Sellers, and for good reason. The rising redshirt sophomore has showcased an arm that can fire lasers, combined with incredible mobility and playmaking instincts that have coaches scrambling to find ways to defend him. After a stellar season where he threw for 2,546 yards and 18 touchdowns, the hype around him is reaching fever pitch. However, while all the attention is on Sellers, Head Coach Shane Beamer and his staff are more concerned about some critical issues on their team—issues that no quarterback, however talented, can fully cover up.
While Sellers is undoubtedly an exciting starter, there’s a reality beneath the surface of Columbia’s football scene, and it revolves around one major problem: the trenches. According to insiders from That SEC Podcast, South Carolina is a big question mark this spring, not only because of their brutal schedule starting with Virginia Tech on August 31 but also due to the lack of stability up front. “Mike, I’ve got two sort of areas that I’m really watching this spring,” the podcast team noted. “And one of them is kind of combined two things into one, and it’s the line of scrimmage. I think we’ll start there for South Carolina. Three new starters on the interior. Also, four defensive tackles who played major snaps last year are gone.”
In the SEC, having a weak line of scrimmage is a recipe for disaster. And South Carolina certainly knows this. Last season, the Gamecocks gave up 41 sacks, ranking 123rd nationally. Without LaNorris Sellers’ ability to escape pressure and make something out of nothing, that number would’ve been even worse. “I think we can all admit it’d be a lot higher number if not for LaNorris Sellers being such a dynamic athlete. Nine out of ten quarterbacks are probably not the athlete he is.” But therein lies the problem—Sellers can evade defenders, but he can’t block for himself. Relying on him to carry the offense all season, especially against SEC defenses, is a risky proposition.
To mitigate this, South Carolina is banking on Josiah Thompson, their blue-chip left tackle, to anchor the offensive line. “Now we’ve got what’s his name, Josiah Thompson on left tackle. He could…he could be elite. So I’m not saying it’s like an awful line, but going from year one to year two, if you got left tackle figured out, you’re doing better than the vast majority of college football right out the gate.” Potential is great, but it doesn’t stop SEC pass rushers from blowing up a game plan. The interior of the line remains a huge question mark, even with three potential transfer portal starters arriving.
And the struggles don’t end there. The defensive line is another major concern. With Kyle Kennard departing, South Carolina is left to fill the void. “So yeah, oh, but I think if I had to pick one or the other, Stephen, I think I’m no defensive line because of how many veterans they had. Kyle Kennard was just lights out, and I never in a million years would imagine he was going to be that caliber.” Dylan Stewart, while a potential star, now faces the challenge of being the focal point for opposing offensive lines, which could result in double-teams all season long. And as any SEC coach will tell you, that’s how promising edge rushers get neutralized.
Wide receiver depth is another looming issue for the Gamecocks. While LaNorris Sellers has the talent to develop into a top-tier passer, he’ll need reliable playmakers on the outside to succeed. “Part two of that is what happens at receiver, and I think you have to be kind of optimistic that maybe Nick Harbor, maybe Jared Brown, some of those guys take a step forward.” But that optimism hinges on some big “maybes,” and South Carolina needs more than just flashes of brilliance—they need consistent production. If players like Harbor and Brown don’t step up, Sellers will find himself throwing to a largely unproven group, increasing the pressure on the young quarterback to elevate the offense.
This creates something of a paradox. Coach Shane Beamer is being discussed as a playoff contender, yet the foundation of his team—particularly the trenches—is anything but solid.
However, it’s not all doom and gloom for LaNorris Sellers. Even though he didn’t attend last week’s NFL Combine, his name continued to make waves in the football world. Top draft prospects couldn’t help but heap praise on the South Carolina quarterback during interviews with CBS Sports’ Ryan Wilson. Defenders in particular were quick to show their respect, albeit with a hint of frustration at facing him.
Texas A&M pass rusher Shemar Stewart named LaNorris Sellers as one of his toughest college opponents, even comparing him to a prime version of Cam Newton. “LaNorris Sellers… Man, he is prime-time Cam (Newton)!” Stewart said, adding, “That boy strong, I ain’t going to lie to you. I don’t know what they’re feeding him over there.” A glowing review from a defensive lineman. But it didn’t stop there. Nic Scourton, also from Texas A&M, had a more humorous, yet equally telling take. “He’s talented. I really dislike that guy. Nothing against him as a person—I’ve heard he’s a really good person—but I really dislike him,” Scourton admitted, explaining, “He hurts defenders when they try to tackle him.”
That’s the ultimate sign of respect—when defenders genuinely dislike facing you. Still, while LaNorris Sellers is clearly a force, the question remains: can the rest of the Gamecocks’ roster catch up to him and put together a more balanced team for the upcoming season?
The Lady Gamecocks are heading to the SEC Championship game after a dominant 93-75 win over the Oklahoma Sooners in the semifinal round. This victory further solidifies their impressive season in the SEC, with their only loss being to Texas during the regular season. South Carolina will face the winner of the LSU vs. Texas matchup in the final.
