LaNorris Sellers expected to return to South Carolina for 2026

South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers was thought to be a sure-fire selection, one that was considered to be a first-rounder, if not one of the first overall picks, in the 2026 NFL Draft. However, rather than go to the next level, he’s instead expected to be back next season in Columbia, as On3’s Pete Nakos confirmed on Saturday. He’s in the final negotiations of a deal to run it back with the Gamecocks.

Having been on the team the past three seasons, Sellers has been the starting quarterback over the last two years for the Gamecocks. He has been one of the nation’s best dual-threat players in that time, as Sellers has posted 63.2% completion for 4,971 yards with 31 touchdowns and 15 interceptions, while rushing for 944 yards and a dozen more scores. That brings him to an average of 246.4 total yards per game put up by him for the offense at South Carolina.

However, Sellers fell off a bit this past fall after a breakout first season as their starter. He, this season, went down to 60.8% completion for 2,437 yards, 13 touchdowns, and eight interceptions, while rushing for only 270 yards in scoring five touchdowns to bring him down to 225.6 yards per game overall. All of those major statistics were down for him, with areas of improvement, despite the obvious talent he has, clearly still there in his game, like in completion rate and in touchdown-to-turnover ratio.

Now, in year three as a starter, South Carolina will hope to see Sellers make those strides, not just due to experience but due to who’ll be his third offensive coordinator in as many years in Kendal Briles. The offense as a whole declined in going from Dowell Loggains to Mike Shula, who was fired before the season was over to start November, with Briles now taking his place after stops the past decade as an OC at TCU, Arkansas, Florida State, Houston, FAU, and Baylor.

There’s certainly talent there with a prospect like Sellers. He’s just likely going to spend another year refining it at the collegiate level, with him seemingly coming back to be the Gamecocks’ QB1.