Scouting South Carolina QB LaNorris Sellers: Could He Be QB1 in 2026?

Welcome back to The McShay Report! Today, we’re continuing our Summer Scouting Series with my early evaluation of South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers, who has the traits of a future QB1, should he show continued development in his second year as a starter for the Gamecocks in 2025.

If you’re a new subscriber, be sure to check out my reports on Arch Manning and Garrett Nussmeier as well. We’ll return on Thursday with a tape breakdown of Clemson’s Cade Klubnik.

LaNorris Sellers Scouting Report

Sellers is listed at 6-foot-3, 240 pounds and is entering his third year in the program in 2025. He made only four pass attempts as a true freshman in 2023 before taking over as the Gamecocks’ full-time starter in 2024. He played in 12 of 13 games (missed the second half of the LSU game and all of the Akron game with an ankle injury) last season, and completed 196 of 299 passes (65.6 percent) for 2,534 yards with 18 touchdown passes and seven interceptions. Was also second on the team in rushing with 166 carries for 674 yards and seven touchdowns. Twice named SEC Academic Honor Roll.

Players are graded on a scale of 1-5, with 1 being best

Mental Makeup (2.5)

• Looked overwhelmed early in the season; entirely too many turnovers and turnover-worthy plays.

• Made huge strides with mental clock, protections, pass-rush awareness and overall ball security as the 2024 season progressed.

• Needs to continue to make leaps in this area (and with footwork) in 2025.

Accuracy (2.5)

• Above-average ball placement when his erratic footwork doesn’t get in the way.

• I like his natural feel when throwing the ball down the field. Has a good feel for trajectory and touch. Should continue to refine with more game experience.

• Footwork just needs to be drilled home. Too flat-footed at times, not married to eyes … Don’t question his natural accuracy but definitely want to see improvement in ball placement consistency with a full offseason to drill footwork and to be more decisive. Game’s moving too fast at times, which contributes to inconsistent footwork.

• When he misses, it’s frequently high.

• Saw major improvement as 2024 season progressed and will be looking for that improvement to continue in year two as a starter.

Release/Arm Strength (1.5)

• A lot of energy on the ball. Can rip it 30-plus yards on a line with a flick of wrist. 

• Wouldn’t put him in the elite class of “load-to-arrival” speed but consider him well above average.

Pocket Mobility (1.5)

• Has shades of Jalen Hurts with similar run instincts and speed, but a couple inches taller and 15 more pounds on frame. Like Hurts, he’s a passer first with a really good (but not elite) blend of mobility, strength and creativity after the initial play breaks down.

• Legitimate run threat in the RPO game. Like his patience and vision as a runner—in addition to his speed and strength.

• Speed is very good for the position, but not Lamar Jackson–elite. Reportedly runs the 40 in the high-4.5s. 

• Strength and tackle-breaking is very good for the position, but not Josh Allen–elite. 

Preseason Prospect Status

Sellers has the blend of size, mobility, and arm strength that NFL teams covet in a quarterback. He made tremendous strides after a rocky start to 2024, his first year as full-time starter. He’s talented, he’s smart, he’s hardworking, and he’s a leader—so there’s every reason to buy his stock at this point. While I’m thrilled to see the next steps in his growth, it’s important to keep perspective of where he is in his development. Sellers has only 12 career starts entering 2025 and will have fewer than 30 starts by the end of 2025 (and maybe only 25 or so starts). So it begs the question whether his best interest will be to leave early for the ’26 draft or return for one more season at South Carolina.

NFL Comp: Jalen Hurts

Hurts has a more compact, refined delivery, but Sellers has a slightly stronger arm and a bigger frame. Sellers should exit college as a more efficient passer. They share similar athletic traits, sturdy frames, speed-strength combinations to extend/run, and creativity as passers on the move. Both are also highly driven and maximize traits due to commitment on and off the field.

From the Scouting Notebook: A bonus inside look at some of the stream-of-consciousness notes I took while watching Sellers’s film. (These are intentionally unedited!)

Kentucky

9:00 1Q - Quick trigger off RPO. Really like anticipation/throwing to a spot (behind LB outreached arm). 

3:23 1Q - J. Hurts–like magic. Climbs pocket, slides left, located late-flashing WR, and makes high difficulty throw while taking hit. ***Moment: third-and-9 backed up in shadow of own EZ. Impressive stuff. Poise.

1:55 2Q - Can’t hold on to the ball. Awareness in this moment with rusher breaking free? Catches a break that teammate catches loose ball…

ONE PLAY LATER (1:49 2Q) - INT on overthrow with rusher bearing down. Frontside pressure again. Gets panicky with feet, which leads to overthrow:

14:50 3Q - Strip sack. Holds ball too long again! Frontside pressure again! Gets bailed out again (teammate picks up fumble and runs).

13:28 3Q - GROUNDHOG DAY!! Another strip-sack by frontside pressure. Nightmare sequence! Needs to learn from mistakes. UK recovers this one.

7:50 3Q - Progress! Senses frontside pressure, rolls to his left, locates and delivers to open target downfield. Good job sensing and eluding.

3:27 3Q - Double pumps, flicks wrist, good energy to the RT sideline.

LSU

8:22 1Q - Avoidable INT in FG range. Low-percentage deep shot with defender in his face. Got hit while throwing, which affected throw. But could have slid/scrambled to extend. Situational awareness. Teaching moment:

7:00 2Q - Pressure comes, defenders with backs turned, tucks and runs for 14 yards. Not a burner but good mobility and breaks tackle for extra 3 or 4 yards at end of run.

TWO PLAYS LATER (6:11 2Q) - SAME SH*# AS UK GAME! Frontside pressure, holds ball too long, tries to pull ball back on a screen that was sniffed out and gets whacked for strip-sack. Another turnover! Need to speed up clock and throw ball away.

4:15 2Q - RPO 75yd TD RUN! Makes perfect read on RPO, follows block, one-cut and shows breakaway speed:

:44 2Q - Really nice deep shot under pressure down LT rail. Flicks wrist with ease. Drives with energy nearly 40 yards in air on a line.

Ole Miss

11:57 2Q - Nice pull on RPO. Confident runner with build-up speed (30-yard run).

12:15 3Q - Clock speeding up. Tucks and runs for good gain after initial play breaks down. Smart decision.

1:56 3Q - Now we’re playing with confidence! Rolling right, avoids rusher, locates and connects with WR. Starting to see him play loose and free. Down 27-3 though!!

— Taking off and running more on subsequent plays. OL struggling to protect vs viscous MISS pass rush, but LaNorris is taking matters into his own hands. 

— Unfortunately, finishes drive by not seeing DB squatting in EZ and throws a pick. But this is the point where I’m seeing him flipping a switch! Hopefully it carries over??!!

Alabama

3:45 1Q - Nice flick of wrist off back foot from own EZ.

8:30 2Q - Can see the strength and mobility to extend. Locates late-breaking WR and hits him in stride. DROP. SHOULD’VE BEEN 87-yard TD!

1:43 2Q - Max protect, hangs in pocket. CVG breakdown. Sellers identifies it and puts the ball on WR in EZ for TD. Like his poise here. Cuts deficit to 14-7:

1:13 2Q - Did he lose fumble again?? NEEDS BETTER BALL SECURITY WHEN PRESSURE BARES DOWN ON HIM!

12:00 3Q - Pressure comes, eludes rush, seeing a better second gear! Also like the pump fake and slide at end. He’s gone from a liability to TOP ASSET! Just carrying himself different!

8:10 4Q - Rolls right, drills strike. Move sticks. Feels in control. Confident throw on time into tight window.

:50 4Q - BEST BALL OF GAME — trailing by 8 w/ under a minute remaining!! Back-shoulder, leads WR to EZ sideline. Great ball, great catch by WR8 (Nyck Harbor):

— Overshoots WR in back corner of EZ on 2pt attempt to effectively end the game.

— Lost 27-25 but brought SC back after trailing 14-0. Seeing the signs. Significantly more poised, confident, and aggressive in the pocket—as a passer and as a runner.

Oklahoma 

14:43 1Q - Starts game off with long run (25 yards). Taking control early with legs. Strong, shifty, burst.

:30 2Q - Absolute brilliance. This is the best of him. Instincts and quick feet in pocket (climbs the retreats and rolls RT, keeps play alive, WR breaks free down RT sideline last second, Sellers connects in stride for big gain.)

14:08 3Q - Strong in pocket, confident with footwork and throw. Hits WR on target on out-breaking route LT.

— BLOWOUT AT OU. First of a six-game win streak!!
— Still missing high when he missed, still putting ball in danger when pressure is getting home. His strength to ward off contact is one of his greatest assets, but also brings out the worst in him. Needs to learn when to eat the sack or throwaway.

Texas A&M

14:53 1Q - Extends right, strike along RT sideline. 1st down.

10:58 1Q - Couple plays later, designed run, one-cut and go for SIX:

8:30 1Q - TD pass. Scheme’s open but nice touch throwing off back foot with pressure oncoming.

5:07 1Q - Breaks tackle in backfield. Turns 8yd loss into 12yd gain!!

9:20 2Q - His mobility keeps LBs so honest. And opens up throwing lanes… goal-to-go on 8; he exploits lane without even RPO action and drills low strike for TD.

:17 2Q - STRIP-SACK AGAIN! With time running out before half. A&M defender returns it to SC 35! Defensive holding negates the play, but still—we can’t make this mistake in this situation. SC escapes with game-tying FG before the half.

Vanderbilt

13:51 2Q - Poise in pocket. Eventually rolls RT. Really nice throw to WR along right sideline on the move.

13:18 2Q - Drills seam route for SIX:

15:00 3Q - Command. Rolling RT, pointing WRs open. Pretty absurd display of athletic ability, strength to break tackle, and then 43-yard rope while sprinting to his left. GO WATCH IT FOR YOURSELF!! He’s come a long way since the UK game!!

Missouri 

6:20 2Q - Misses high again! INT!

2:40 2Q - Pretty ball down left rail. Drops it in down to 6 yd line.

1:33 2Q - Rolls RT, snaps wrist, on target about 27 yds downfield makes harder stuff look routine!

5:10 4Q - Led team down the field, mostly with legs. Takes lead in 4Q with EZ strike rolling RT. LED WR to spot. TOUCH.

Gets ball back w/ :53 4Q, trailing by 3 (30-27) - Good throw rolling LT to LT sideline.

Couple plays later: Extends, starts RT but GETS FEET SET and drills strike over middle (WR takes it down to 22 yard line). Sets up shovel to Rocket Sanders for the 15-yd game winning TD!

Clemson

14:37 1Q - ONE OF THE MOST UNBELIEVABLE RUNS OF THE CFB SEASON!

Three broken tackles, two broken ankles and 40 yards later he gets taken down… But fumbles a couple plays later.

9:36 2Q - Another pretty incredible run. 25 yards for TD.

14:21 3Q - Nice job leading WR on crosser. Keep seeing improvement with placement and touch.

***If this is a preview of what’s to come with Sellers as a confident, aggressive, and creative runner/passer in 2025, it’s gonna be a wild ride. He is still making too many careless decisions, but he has cut down on them SIGNIFICANTLY and he does special things that very few can do.