Could LaNorris Sellers Be College Football’s Breakout Superstar?
South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers is starting to generate serious buzz ahead of the 2025 season, with some analysts even suggesting he could follow in the footsteps of Cam Ward and rise all the way to the No. 1 overall pick in next year’s NFL Draft.
On top of that, Sellers is being mentioned as a potential dark horse in the Heisman Trophy race. Josh Pate, host of Josh Pate’s College Football Show, is particularly high on the Gamecocks’ rising star.
Appearing on Up & Adams, Pate argued that Sellers has been overlooked and could shock the college football world in 2025.
“I would say LaNorris Sellers has the chance, out of all these guys, to be the story of the year,” Pate told host Kay Adams. “I know there’s a little Kansas City Chiefs thing going on, where it feels like we’re overlooking Arch [Manning].
“I’m not low on Arch or anything like that, but I think he’s properly priced in the market here. LaNorris Sellers could be the number one overall pick in the draft. This time next year, we’re talking about South Carolina replacing the top overall pick in the draft the way we’re talking about Miami right now.”
What Makes Sellers Different
Pate pointed to Sellers’ unique skill set and rapid growth as the biggest reasons for optimism. Ranked No. 13 in the AP Top 25 preseason poll, South Carolina is aiming for its first College Football Playoff appearance — and their hopes hinge heavily on their sophomore quarterback.
“He is incredibly dynamic,” Pate explained. “I think he has just scratched the surface of what he’s capable of this year. They really worked on his pocket presence, pocket awareness in spring and summer because he’s got all the athleticism in the world.”
The Wide Receiver Question
One of the key storylines surrounding Sellers is whether South Carolina’s wide receiver unit can keep pace with his talent. Pate admitted that he has been skeptical of the group but noted that inside sources in Columbia have been bullish on their progress.
“The one thing I’ve been following with him, and if our South Carolina insiders that I talk to are right, then this needs to be paid attention to, is I’ve doubted his wide receiver room…” Pate said.
“They swear that they’ve got one of the more underrated wide receiver rooms in the SEC. I still got to see it. But if they’re right, then LaNorris Sellers is priced way too low there. And you’ll know early because they play Virginia Tech in Week 1.”
With a loaded schedule and national eyes turning toward Columbia, Sellers has the opportunity to not only lead South Carolina into the playoff conversation but also elevate himself into the NFL Draft’s top tier.
