LaNorris Sellers injury update: South Carolina QB leaves game following illegal hit

South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers was helped off the field following a big hit near the end of the second quarter Saturday night against Vanderbilt.

Backup quarterback Luke Doty relieved Sellers and remained in the game for the final 1:48 of the first half. Vanderbilt linebacker Langston Patterson, who made the hit on Sellers, was ejected for targeting.

#10 Langston Patterson was ejected for targeting for this hit on LaNorris Sellers. pic.twitter.com/GuNLx0dCeB

— Im not a fan of your favorite team (@fsh733) September 14, 2025

“I asked (the referee) as soon as it happened if they were looking at it for targeting; for our quarterback to be laying on the ground like that, he probably got hit in the head,” a furious Shane Beamer said during the SEC Network broadcast as he headed for the locker room. “For whatever reason, it took them a while to buzz down. I don’t know what’s going on in Birmingham or wherever they look at it, but I thought it was pretty obvious.”

Prior to Sellers’ injury, the preseason All-SEC selection completed 6/7 passes for 94 yards. He threw one interception and rushed for -3 yards on three carries. He hit the locker room prior to South Carolina kicker Mason Love‘s missed 53-yard field goal with 20 seconds remaining in the half, likely to be tested for a concussion.

Sellers’ absence in the second half would be a massive loss for the Carolina offense. Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea discussed Sellers’ ability to make good decisions with the ball and create plays with his legs earlier this week.

“I think there’s everything you’d want to see out of a quarterback,” Lea said during a Tuesday press conference. “Not necessarily as someone defending a quarterback. I mean, he’s big and physical and smart and makes good decisions with the ball and can create with his legs. He’s got arm strength… He’s really talented in all the areas you want a quarterback to be talented in.”