LaNorris Sellers Earns Spot on Prestigious Maxwell Award Watch List Ahead of Sophomore Season
South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers continues to draw national attention as he gears up for his redshirt sophomore season. On Monday, Sellers was officially named to the 2025 Maxwell Award preseason watch list, joining 79 other standout players from across college football.
The Maxwell Award, presented annually since 1937, honors college football’s top player and is named in memory of Robert “Tiny” Maxwell—a former Swarthmore College athlete, acclaimed sportswriter, and referee. While South Carolina has never had a Maxwell Award winner, Sellers might just be the Gamecock to make history.
“University of South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers is one of 80 college football players named to the 89th Maxwell Award preseason watch list,” read the official announcement from South Carolina Athletics.
Standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 240 pounds, the Florence, S.C. native exploded onto the national scene in 2024. Sellers was named the National Freshman Offensive Player of the Year by the Football Writers Association of America, while also collecting Freshman All-American, SEC All-Freshman, and third-team All-SEC honors.
In his breakout season, Sellers threw for 2,534 yards and 18 touchdowns with an impressive 65.6% completion rate. He was just as effective with his legs, adding 674 rushing yards and seven more touchdowns—a dual-threat performance that cemented his reputation as one of the most dynamic young quarterbacks in the nation.
Ahead of the 2025 season, Sellers has appeared on multiple preseason All-American lists, raising expectations for what could be a monumental year for both him and the South Carolina program.
The Maxwell Award selection process includes detailed performance evaluations by Pro Football Focus (PFF) and analysis from Phil Steele Publications, two of the most respected sources in college football scouting.
Important dates to watch:
- Semifinalists will be revealed on November 11, 2025
- Three finalists will be announced on November 25, 2025
- The Maxwell Award winner will be revealed during the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show on December 11, 2025
- The official award presentation takes place on March 13, 2026, in Atlanta, Georgia
With LaNorris Sellers leading the charge, the Gamecocks are poised to make some noise in 2025—and perhaps bring home one of college football’s most prestigious honors for the first time in program history.
