South Carolina looking to grow LaNorris Sellers as passer in 2025

South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers’ calling card in his debut season as the Gamecocks’ starter was his ability to scramble out of the pocket.

It’s a skill that has propelled his name to one of the top of returning quarterbacks in college football.

Sellers’ running ability shone in South Carolina’s close win over rival Clemson. In the offense’s final drive, Sellers broke off a 27-yard run on a key third down. His running ability later turned 3rd and 16 into the game-winning touchdown.

Sellers’ performance against Clemson was one of six games in 2024 for him with 50-or-more rushing yards, the second of 100-plus.

Offensive coordinator Mike Shula said Sellers’ running ability is something he wants to enhance. That enhancement starts with improving his ability as a passer.

“Wanna do it on our own terms, not because, well, ‘Maybe I didn’t quite understand the read, or I didn’t see this, or I’m late on doing that, now I have to run,’” Shula said. “We want him to run because he wants to, not because he has to.”

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For Sellers, he practices that mindset by trusting the people around him.

“Trusting the protection, just being more patient with the protection, and not just looking to run,” Sellers said. “Trusting the receivers that they’ll get open and throwing with anticipation … timing and footwork, all that.”

Shula said the main thing is to pick up from the end point of 2024, not the start.

In Sellers six appearances of 2024 for the Gamecocks, he averaged roughly 23 pass attempts, along with 14 pass completions per game. In his final six games, he threw an average of 26 passes, completing 18.

Shula and Sellers have looked in the offseason about getting his eyes to the “right place.” He also wants to get Sellers to read defenses quicker.

“The faster you can process and make good decisions with the football, the less you may have to run with the football,” Shula said.

Part of that process is talking about it constantly with Sellers, Shula said. It is also showing him other quarterbacks doing it when going through film.

“You talk about looks of yourself doing it, Shula said. “And maybe you’re having LaNorris watch himself on this play and just say, ‘Hey, well, now, if we had this play and that same exact look, what are you doing?”

Timing, footwork and anticipation are specifically the three main things Sellers is fine-tuning to get to where Shula wants him.

“Really trusting my arm,” Sellers said. “Knowing I can make these throws, then just going out there and doing it.” At this point in spring practice, with youth headlining the offensive line and wide receiver rooms, the goal is to get a feel on the best way to communicate, Shula said. South Carolina signed six freshmen wide receivers for the 2025 recruiting class.

However, despite their youth, Sellers said the incoming class of freshmen wide receivers is willing to work.

“With them being young, they don’t shy away from anything,” Sellers said. “They can all run. They’re all athletic and catch the ball well.”

Wide receivers coach Mike Furrey also said the returning group of wide receivers, in addition to the freshmen, will expand the Gamecock offense. And in turn, that will help Sellers as he develops.

“Now you’re not going to have to be so one-dimensional,” Furrey said. “Collectively as an entire offense, you better be able to defend everything. I think that’s the best part about an offense that you want to design. And I think we’re in that situation, hopefully by the end of spring.”

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