Josh Pate believes South Carolina's LaNorris Sellers set to "level up" in 2025

South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers is one of the most exciting players in college football. The preseason All-American has seen his name on several prestigious award watch lists and is even on several Heisman Trophy betting odds lists, including the sixth-best odds in the country, according to BetMGM.

National analyst Josh Pate is high on Sellers’ potential for a big year in 2025. On his Sunday episode of Josh Pate’s College Football Show, he talked up the Gamecock signal-caller. He also threw in some notes about USC’s potential win-loss total.

Join GamecockCentral now for $1 your first week and enjoy a complimentary year of The Athletic – included with your membership.

Said Pate about Sellers, “We could be getting ready to see something really special from LaNorris Sellers this year.”

Following a strong end to last season, Pate believes things could continue this fall. “[Sellers] really popped last year, but he could be a superstar.” He predicted, “I believe he will level up. There are people in the scouting world that believe he will be the No. 1 overall pick in the draft a year from now. I mean, they’re that high on him.”

Pate continued, “I mean, he is big, and he is physical. But there is a layer to his passing game that I think will be added on this year. And if we’re right about that, you better enjoy him while you can there.”

Sellers was South Carolina’s first coaches-selected All-SEC quarterback last season. He also posted the best single-month performance in team history with 16 touchdowns in November.

While Pate has some questions about the Gamecocks’ personnel on defense and at wide receiver, he’s optimistic about the team’s potential if things go well this fall. Sellers isn’t the only reason for optimism in Columbia this fall. “They could have the best offensive player in the SEC this year. But wait: they could have the best defensive player in the SEC this year,” he said, referencing Sellers and EDGE Dylan Stewart.

Along with Sellers and Stewart, Pate thinks another Gamecock has the chance for a big year.

He added, “For a breakout player at South Carolina, I think I’ve got to go with Nyck Harbor. Although we just talked about the wide receiver room past him as being maybe a bit of an unknown, he is not running track…it’s his third year in the same system. He’s got to be a star for them.”

Get USC Gamecocks app notifications

Though South Carolina plays one of the country’s toughest schedules, Pate believes the structure of the schedule could work out in the team’s favor. “They’ve got, by our internal metrics, the No. 6 strength of schedule nationally. It’s not easy. I do love the runway they have, though.” Pate explained, “Flat-out, [I’m] telling you that South Carolina should be 5-0 (after playing Virginia Tech, South Carolina State, Vanderbilt, Missouri, and Kentucky).”

For a prediction, Pate used his projection model to pick the best-case scenario, worst-case scenario, and most-likely scenario for the 2025 Gamecocks. According to Pate’s model, South Carolina can go 10-2 with a good showing, but as he put it, he “tried to push for 11-1.” However, with the difficult season slate, 5-7 is in play in a worst-case scenario for the Gamecocks. The team’s most-likely regular-season finish? 8-4. If Shane Beamer’s team can do just a little better than Pate’s most-likely record and win nine or ten games in the regular season, they will be in the thick of the College Football Playoff conversation.

The road to the CFP begins in less than three weeks. South Carolina opens the 2025 season in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium against Virgina Tech on Sunday, August 31st. The Gamecocks and Hokies will kick off at 3:00 p.m.

Discuss South Carolina football on The Insiders Forum!