Mel Kiper projects South Carolina's LaNorris Sellers as possible top pick in NFL Draft

No one is more synonymous with the NFL Draft than ESPN’s Mel Kiper. The long-time draft guru spoke with fellow ESPN personalities Field Yates and Mike Greenberg about the 2026 class this week. During their conversation on ESPN’s show First Draft, Kiper gave a bold projection for South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers.

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Following a prediction that Texas QB Arch Manning will return to the Longhorns next year, Kiper revealed what he thought of Sellers’s draft stock. “LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina or Drew Allar, Penn State…I think it’s one of those two [who will be taken No. 1 overall].”

Kiper said, “For me, I would go to Sellers. By the way, Sellers will only be 20 years of age at the draft next year.” But it’s not just No. 16’s age that intrigues the veteran draft analyst. “Sellers looks the part. I think he’s going to play some outstanding football this year for South Carolina.”

Standing 6-3 and weighing in at 240 pounds, both Kiper and Yates noted that Sellers has an impressive frame, special athleticism, and a strong arm. His potential is sky-high, and NFL decision-makers have taken notice.

Yates also had good things to say about Sellers. Though he admitted Sellers has growth potential as a passer, the South Carolina signal-caller has too many tools to ignore. Yates said, “The good and the upside of LaNorris Sellers is higher than any prospect–Arch Manning, included–in the entire draft class. It just is. Period. End of story.”

Greenberg quipped that he “fell in love” with Sellers as a prospect recently. Following the Gamecocks’ win over Virginia Tech and some subsequent research, the well-known New York Jets fan made it clear he hopes the franchise winds up with the Gamecock gunslinger under center in the Big Apple. “I cannot get over how much talent LaNorris Sellers seems to have,” he exclaimed.

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So far in 2025, Sellers hasn’t played his best football. However, that somewhat mirrors his 2024 season, too. He got out to a somewhat slow start as a redshirt freshman but became one of the best players in the country by the time the regular season ended.

Down the stretch of the 2024 campaign, Sellers led the Gamecocks to a perfect 6-0 finish. That included four wins over ranked opponents. He also rewrote the South Carolina football record books with 16 touchdowns in the month of November.

If Sellers can return to that form, and he elects to forego two additional years of eligibility, he will challenge for the top spot in next year’s draft.

The NFL Draft will take place from Thursday, April 23, 2026 to Saturday, April 25, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

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