South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers was once viewed as a lock for the 2026 NFL Draft — a potential first-rounder and even a candidate to be among the earliest picks overall. Instead of making the jump to the pros, Sellers now appears poised to return to Columbia for another season. On3’s Pete Nakos confirmed Saturday that Sellers is in the final stages of negotiations on a deal to run it back with the Gamecocks.
A member of the program for three seasons, Sellers has been South Carolina’s starting quarterback for the past two years. During that stretch, he’s established himself as one of the nation’s most dangerous dual-threat quarterbacks. He has completed 63.2% of his passes for 4,971 yards, throwing 31 touchdowns against 15 interceptions, while adding 944 rushing yards and 12 scores on the ground. Altogether, Sellers has averaged 246.4 total yards per game as the engine of the Gamecock offense.
That production dipped somewhat this past fall following a breakout debut season as the starter. Sellers finished the year completing 60.8% of his passes for 2,437 yards, 13 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. His rushing numbers also declined, totaling 270 yards and five touchdowns, bringing his overall output down to 225.6 yards per game. Nearly every major statistical category took a step back, highlighting areas where refinement is still needed — particularly in completion percentage and touchdown-to-turnover efficiency — despite his clear talent.
Entering what would be his third season as the starter, South Carolina is banking on growth from Sellers, aided not only by experience but also by another change at offensive coordinator. Kendal Briles will become Sellers’ third OC in three years after the offense regressed during the transition from Dowell Loggains to Mike Shula, who was dismissed before November. Briles arrives in Columbia with a decade of coordinator experience, including stops at TCU, Arkansas, Florida State, Houston, FAU, and Baylor.
The upside remains undeniable with a quarterback like Sellers. Rather than rushing to the NFL, he appears set to spend another season polishing his game at the college level — once again leading South Carolina as its QB1.
READ MORE:
It has been a whirlwind week in Columbia for Shane Beamer and South Carolina, with the Gamecocks finalizing deals for several new staff members — highlighted by the hiring of offensive coordinator Kendal Briles. But even with all that movement on the coaching front, it appears even bigger news is emerging for the centerpiece of the program.
Kendal Briles addresses LaNorris Sellers as South Carolina unveils new staff
That centerpiece, of course, is quarterback LaNorris Sellers.
For weeks, speculation has swirled around Sellers’ future, with many wondering if the star quarterback might test the transfer portal when it opens in early January. The uncertainty has kept plenty of Gamecock fans uneasy, especially given how vital Sellers is to the team’s identity moving forward.
Those fears may now be put to rest.
On Saturday morning, Pete Thamel delivered a major update, reporting that Sellers and South Carolina are in the process of finalizing a new deal that would keep him in Columbia for another season. It’s massive news for Beamer and the Gamecocks as they look to build continuity around their offense.
“LaNorris Sellers and South Carolina are finalizing a new deal for him to return.”
If completed, the agreement would solidify Sellers’ place as the heart and soul of the team heading into next season — and give the newly reshaped coaching staff a franchise quarterback to build around.
