South Carolina football hasn’t lived up to preseason expectations in 2025. The Gamecocks sit at 3–7, and quarterback LaNorris Sellers — once hyped as a Heisman Trophy contender — has struggled to find consistency.
But one former Heisman winner still believes Sellers can turn things around.
During an appearance on Shannon Sharpe’s Nightcap podcast, 2012 Heisman Trophy winner and former Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel expressed confidence in Sellers’ long-term upside.
“I still have faith in him… in my opinion, being around enough quarterbacks, I think LaNorris Sellers still has enough potential to go out and come back next year and have an unbelievable year,” Manziel said.
NFL Scouts Still Intrigued by Sellers
Sellers remains eligible for the 2026 NFL Draft, and despite an uneven season, professional scouts continue to be intrigued by his exceptional physical tools — size, athleticism, and arm talent. If an early-round promise comes his way, leaving school could be tempting.
However, if Sellers returns to Columbia and avoids lucrative transfer portal offers — which currently seems the most likely scenario — he would be a prime candidate for a major bounce-back season in 2026.
Manziel praised Sellers’ raw ability:
“He’s huge on the field in real life. He throws it nice. It comes out of his hand [well].”
Who’s Really to Blame?
Both Manziel and Sharpe’s co-host, former NFL Pro Bowler Chad Johnson, pointed to systemic issues around Sellers rather than solely his own play.
They suggested the young quarterback never looked fully comfortable within the South Carolina offense and was hindered by the coaching of former offensive coordinator Mike Shula, who has since been fired.
Still, they emphasized that high-pressure command is something Sellers must improve to reach his ceiling.
Johnson explained:
“You’ve got to learn to stay relaxed. You’ve got to learn to stay calm. To be able to make the right decisions in pressure situations — that makes some of the best quarterback play. That’s where the best quarterbacks come from.”
Two Games Left to Show Progress
Sellers will have two final chances this season to build positive momentum before the offseason.
South Carolina hosts Coastal Carolina this Saturday at 4:15 p.m. on SEC Network, with streaming available on the ESPN app.
The following week, the Gamecocks face their rivalry showdown against Clemson at noon, also airing on SEC Network and streaming on ESPN.
Whether Sellers returns next season or chooses another path, experts — including a former Heisman winner — still believe his potential is far from tapped.
