South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers is working through concussion protocol after taking a vicious helmet-to-helmet hit in Saturday’s 31-7 loss to Vanderbilt, according to On3’s Pete Nakos. The blow came late in the first half when Commodores linebacker Langston Patterson blitzed and delivered the hit that forced Sellers out of the game.
Nakos reported that Sellers’ status for this weekend’s road matchup at No. 23 Missouri (3-0) is uncertain as he continues recovery.
Head coach Shane Beamer wasn’t ready to provide specifics on Sellers’ condition but did outline the standard team policy for player availability.
“Yeah, we have a pretty consistent policy — if you don’t practice Tuesday or Wednesday, you’re not going to play,” Beamer said Tuesday. “I don’t care who you are. If you don’t get out there and practice on Tuesdays and Wednesdays especially, it’s really tough to just practice on Thursday. The base of your game plan is (installed) on Tuesday and Wednesday.”
Beamer emphasized that Sellers will need to participate in some way during midweek practices to suit up against the Tigers.
Sellers, a redshirt sophomore and projected Top-10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, has already drawn buzz as a potential No. 1 overall selection. Through two and a half games this season, he has racked up 476 total yards and three touchdowns, completing 64.4 percent of his passes for 431 yards and two scores.
If Sellers cannot go, sixth-year senior Luke Doty is expected to get the start. Doty replaced him against Vanderbilt, finishing 18-of-27 for 148 yards with an interception and a fumble. Saturday’s loss marked South Carolina’s first defeat to Vanderbilt since 2008.
“Injury-wise, don’t have an update for you on LaNorris,” Beamer said immediately after the game.
The Gamecocks face a daunting stretch after Missouri. They’ll host Kentucky on Sept. 27, then travel to Baton Rouge to take on No. 3 LSU on Oct. 11. That matchup kicks off a brutal five-game SEC run that also features home dates with No. 11 Oklahoma (Oct. 18) and No. 14 Alabama (Oct. 25).
