South Carolina’s SEC opener turned into a rough night in more ways than one, as the Gamecocks fell 31-7 to Vanderbilt and saw multiple key players leave with injuries.
The biggest blow came in the second quarter when starting quarterback LaNorris Sellers exited following a hard hit that was later flagged for targeting. Trainers immediately took Sellers’ helmet and escorted him to the bench, ruling him out for the rest of the game. Luke Doty filled in at quarterback for the remainder of the contest.
Head coach Shane Beamer had little clarity afterward on the extent of Sellers’ injury.
“Injury wise, don’t have an update for you on LaNorris,” Beamer said.
Before leaving, Sellers completed six of seven passes for 94 yards with one interception and also orchestrated a seven-play, 75-yard touchdown drive in the first quarter — South Carolina’s only score of the game.
“It was heartbreaking seeing him going out,” defensive back Jalon Kilgore said. “Hopefully he can get healthy fast.”
Without their leader, the Gamecocks’ offense collapsed. Sellers was not seen on the sideline in the second half, and South Carolina failed to score again, committing three turnovers after his exit.
“When you lose the leader of your football team and you lose your starting quarterback like that — we were doing a lot of good things,” Beamer said. “I was pleased with a lot of the stuff we were doing offensively. I told the team at halftime that we’ve got to go out and continue to play good football, because we were doing a lot of really good stuff. But I don’t like the way that we started the second half offensively.”
Beamer was asked whether Doty might hold the starting role if Sellers is sidelined going forward.
“We’ll look at everything,” Beamer said. “Luke was in there tonight, and we all got to be better. We’ll evaluate everything as we go into the Missouri week. I understand the question, but way too soon for that.”
Doty, who stepped into the spotlight unexpectedly, said Sellers was still being evaluated during halftime.
“I went and talked to him and told him we’ve got his back and we’re going to do what we can to come back and win this thing,” Doty said. “It’s unfortunate we didn’t. That’s on me and all of us. We wish him a speedy recovery. He’ll be back soon.”
The Gamecocks also lost starting tackle Cason Henry in the second quarter. Henry left for the injury tent holding his left arm and later went to the locker room before halftime. He did not return, instead remaining on the sidelines in pads. Like Sellers, his status remains uncertain.
Beamer summed it up simply after the game: no answers yet, only concerns.
