As the South Carolina Gamecocks entered 2024, questions swirled around the quarterback position following the departure of Spencer Rattler. However, by the end of the season, LaNorris Sellers had solidified himself as a rising star, quickly becoming a household name across the country. The big question now is: can Sellers take the next step in year two?
Heading into 2025, Sellers will likely appear on many Heisman watch lists, but if he hopes to make it to New York and lead South Carolina to a College Football Playoff berth, he’ll need to improve in three key areas.
- Increase Consistency in the Passing Game
Sellers had a standout first season as the Gamecocks’ starting quarterback. He finished the regular season with a six-game winning streak, completing 67% of his passes (100/149) for 1,481 yards, 13 touchdowns, and just 3 interceptions. While his performance was solid, there’s still room for growth. Sellers can enhance his game by becoming more consistent in progressing through his reads and finding open receivers downfield. At times, he showed a tendency to scramble early if his initial reads weren’t available. Though Sellers is a dynamic runner, his explosive receivers are capable of making big plays downfield, and taking more calculated shots could significantly elevate the offense. Brooks Austin of Sports Illustrated dives deeper into this in his breakdown.
- Reduce Turnovers
Turnovers are a quarterback’s worst enemy, and this was one of Sellers’ challenges in 2024. He ended the year with 7 interceptions and 11 fumbles—totaling 18 turnovers. To take the next step and help the Gamecocks offense reach new heights, Sellers will need to minimize these mistakes. Reducing turnovers will be essential if South Carolina plans to compete at the highest levels under Mike Shula.
- Take Full Command of the Offense in Year Two
Before the 2024 season, Sellers acknowledged areas he wanted to improve: “Something I can work on is probably just the smaller things. The fundamentals of it. Staying calm in the pocket.” Now, with a full season as the starter under his belt, the fundamentals should naturally improve. With new offensive coordinator Mike Shula on board and many key defensive players leaving, Sellers will be counted on to take control of the offense in 2025. If he can command the offense—making checks at the line, reading defenses, and putting his teammates in the right position—South Carolina could boast one of the most dangerous units in the country.
As the Gamecocks head into 2025, all eyes will be on LaNorris Sellers as he looks to solidify his place among college football’s elite.
