South Carolina football’s rising sophomores, Dylan Stewart and LaNorris Sellers, are emerging as exceptional talents. Stewart became a starter at EDGE during his first year in Columbia and received multiple Freshman of the Year or Defensive Freshman of the Year accolades after a stellar freshman season in 2024.
Sellers, who spent a season behind quarterback Spencer Rattler, made a strong impact as a redshirt freshman. Like Stewart, he earned several Freshman of the Year or Offensive Freshman of the Year honors this year.
Sellers is ranked No. 20 on On3’s list, making him the 5th-highest quarterback on the list. He set several South Carolina football records this fall and played his best football toward the end of the season.
His name has appeared in several Heisman Trophy projections and odds lists this offseason. On3’s article notes that the Gamecocks have a legitimate shot at the College Football Playoff in 2025, and for that dream to come true, LaNorris Sellers will need to perform like Superman again.
Stewart, ranked No. 4 overall, is the 2nd-highest defender on On3’s list and the highest-rated SEC player. His reputation as a dynamic pass rusher continues to grow this offseason.
On3 highlighted the Stewart-Kyle Kennard duo as “one of the nation’s best” from 2024—perhaps even understating their impact, as Kennard won the Nagurski Trophy and Stewart was named the nation’s top freshman defender. With Kennard gone, Stewart will now be a crucial figure in South Carolina’s pursuit of a College Football Playoff spot. On3 recently released its list of the top 25 college football players for 2025, and both Stewart and Sellers earned well-deserved spots.
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South Carolina Gamecock Freshman Ready to make an immediate impact
South Carolina Gamecocks are no strangers to freshmen stepping up and making an immediate impact, with standout performances last season from Dylan Stewart and Josiah Thompson, both of whom were named to the SEC All-Freshman team. Stewart even earned a spot as a semifinalist for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award. With that in mind, the question arises: which freshmen from the 2025 class will have a similar impact?
The answer could lie in wide receivers Malik Clark and Lex Cyrus, who are poised to contribute early. Last year, the Gamecocks struggled to have a wide receiver exceed 400 yards, so Clark and Cyrus will be crucial in helping their talented quarterback, LaNorris Sellers, find success. Both are dynamic deep threats who could provide Sellers with much-needed options on the field.
Clark, a four-star recruit ranked as the second-best player in South Carolina by 247Sports, is known for his speed, having clocked a 4.39-second 40-yard dash at the Under Armour Next camp. Meanwhile, Cyrus, also a four-star recruit from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, is a former track star with a personal best of 10.4 seconds in the 100 meters. His ability to stretch the field will be a significant asset to the offense.
Another name to watch is Shedrick Sarratt Jr., a promising four-star offensive tackle who could quickly step into a starting role following Vershon Lee’s decision to enter the NFL draft. With a solid 6-foot-4, 300-pound frame, Sarratt is ranked as the fifth-best player in South Carolina by 247Sports and is a prime candidate to solidify the right tackle position in 2025.
South Carolina’s 2025 recruiting class is currently ranked 22nd in the nation by 247Sports, with a total of 18 new recruits joining the roster. As the season progresses, we’ll see if any of these freshmen can follow in the footsteps of players like Stewart and make an immediate impact for the Gamecocks.
