The 2025 college football offseason has officially begun, following the Ohio State Buckeyes‘ victory over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the national championship game earlier this week.
As the offseason rolls in, it signals the start of speculation season, where fans and media alike begin looking ahead to the next season. One of the major talking points during this time is quarterback projections and comparisons, as people attempt to predict which players will lead the sport in the future.
In 2025, a quarterback from the SEC is already drawing attention, with some, including On3’s J.D. Pickell, beginning to draw comparisons to Auburn Tigers icon Cam Newton.
That quarterback is South Carolina Gamecocks redshirt freshman LaNorris Sellers.
At 6-foot-3 and 245 pounds, Sellers possesses the physical traits that align with Newton’s 6-foot-5, 245-pound frame—Newton being a former Heisman Trophy winner and NFL MVP with the Carolina Panthers.
However, it’s not just the size that links the two players; it’s their style of play and athleticism.
“This dude is not Cam Newton, but he gets comped to Cam Newton a lot,” Pickell said. “He is the closest thing when it comes to physical gifts that we’ve seen since Cam Newton. That sounds hyperbolic, but I really don’t think it’s that much of a stretch.”
LaNorris Sellers is not Cam Newton but, when it comes to physical giftings, he is the closest thing we've seen since. My #1 QB ahead of 2025. pic.twitter.com/wSITJ7Lj3J
— J.D. PicKell (@jdpickell) January 24, 2025
Sellers emerged as one of the bright spots in the SEC last season, passing for 2,534 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions. Additionally, he rushed for 674 yards and 7 touchdowns, helping lead the Gamecocks to a 9-4 record and a No. 14 ranking in the Associated Press Top 25.
Beyond their physical similarities, it’s Sellers’ ability to improvise and extend plays that most closely mirrors Newton. With a strong arm and a knack for using his legs to keep drives alive, there’s always a sense that something special could unfold when Sellers has the ball.
As Sellers enters his redshirt sophomore season, the future looks promising for both him and South Carolina.
“Does he have a Cam Newton type of season next year where he goes and wins the Heisman Trophy? I don’t know, but I think it’s possible,” Pickell added. “I think he’s that good.”
According to FanDuel Sportsbook, Sellers is currently listed at +1800 to win the 2026 Heisman Trophy, tied with Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore for the fifth-best odds.
Newton won the Heisman in his third year as a junior at Auburn, so if Sellers continues on his current path toward becoming the next “Superman,” we could see him achieve similar success in his third year at South Carolina this coming fall.
