South Carolina offensive coordinator Mike Shula met with reporters this week to discuss the Gamecocks’ offensive progress and preview Saturday’s road matchup against Ole Miss. The game kicks off at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN, as South Carolina aims to bounce back and find more rhythm on offense in a challenging SEC environment.
Shula made it clear that the team’s offensive approach and preparation have remained steady throughout the season. He said the Gamecocks continue to practice a full range of plays across all situations—early downs, third downs, and red zone—regardless of what gets called during games.
“We’ve been pretty consistent with everything we’ve done all year,” Shula said. “Whether or not we call every play, we practice them all.”
Despite seeing growth and positive moments in recent games, Shula admitted the team’s inability to close out wins has been frustrating. Still, he noted that young players are gaining confidence with every snap.
“We had the ball in our hands with two minutes to go and came up short,” Shula said. “But you can see the comfort level growing with the guys who’ve gotten more snaps.”
When asked about quarterback LaNorris Sellers, Shula praised the young passer’s mobility and decision-making when plays break down. He highlighted Sellers’ ability to keep his eyes downfield while escaping pressure and knowing when to take off with his legs.
“He’s done a really good job of keeping his eyes downfield,” Shula said. “If it’s not there, find your outlet and at worst, use your legs.”
Shula also discussed the importance of balancing creativity and predictability in the play-calling. He said that while successful plays should be repeated, it’s crucial to mix in variations to keep opposing defenses guessing.
“There’s a fine line between running plays that have had success and running them one too many times,” Shula said. “You’ve got to have something off it.”
Seven different players caught passes in the last game, a balance Shula said was partly by design. He wants to spread the ball around but emphasized that Sellers should not force throws just to get certain players involved.
“Stats can be misleading,” Shula said. “We grade his decisions: is he going to the right guy, getting the ball there on time, and doing it accurately? That’s what matters most.”
Although Sellers’ completion percentage wasn’t impressive on paper, Shula said the coaching staff focuses more on decision-making, timing, and accuracy rather than raw statistics. Avoiding negative plays and sustaining drives, he said, are the truer indicators of progress.
Heading into Oxford, Shula’s message was steady and confident: no panic, just progress. The Gamecocks aren’t looking to overhaul the offense, but to fine-tune it. Their mission is straightforward—finish drives, score points, and keep evolving around their young quarterback.
