South Carolina puts three on Freshman All-SEC team

On Thursday, the Southeastern Conference announced its Coaches Freshman All-SEC squad, and South Carolina put three on the team.

Redshirt freshman LaNorris Sellers is the Freshman All-SEC quarterback, true freshman Josiah Thompson is one of four non-centers on the Freshman All-SEC offensive line, and true freshman Dylan Stewart is one of four players on the Freshman All-SEC defensive line.

Sellers, who also made the All-SEC team and was the conference’s Freshman of the Year, finished the season as one of the country’s hottest quarterbacks. As his play improved, so did the Gamecocks’ win-loss record as USC won six games in a row largely due to Sellers’ all-time South Carolina football record of 16 touchdowns in a single month.

A starter in all 11 games he was healthy, Josiah Thompson is a future NFL player at left tackle. He was the clear first-team left tackle since the preseason and was an On3 Freshman All-American, as well.

Stewart, who won On3’s True Freshman Defensive Player of the Year, proved himself to be one of the nation’s top pass rushers. Depending on which outlet one checks, Stewart was in the top 10 or top 15 nationally in quarterback pressures this season. He also has 6.5 sacks so far, putting him 1.5 shy of Jadeveon Clowney’s freshman Gamecock record.

From the South Carolina Athletics press release:

The University of South Carolina has three players on the 2024 Coaches’ Freshman All-SEC football team, the Southeastern Conference announced today, with quarterback LaNorris Sellers, offensive lineman Josiah Thompson and defensive lineman Dylan Stewart earning spots on the squad.

Earlier this week, Sellers, a 6-3, 242-pound redshirt freshman from Florence, S.C., was named to the third-team All-SEC squad and was recognized as the SEC Freshman of the Year by the league’s coaches. He completed 64.9 percent of his passes (172-for-265) for 2,274 yards and 17 touchdowns. He added 155 carries for 655 yards and seven scores in his first year as the starting signal-caller for the Gamecocks.

Thompson, a 6-7, 300-pound true freshman from Dillon, S.C., started all 11 games in which he appeared in 2024 at the left tackle position, protecting Sellers’ blind side. The 2023 South Carolina Mr. Football recipient, Thompson was previously named to the On3.com True Freshman All-America team.

Stewart, a 6-6, 248-pounder from Washington, D.C., recorded 20 tackles in 2024 including 9.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. He was credited with four quarterback hurries, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. He was previously named the On3.com Defensive True Freshman of the Year and joined Thompson on its True Freshman All-America team. He is a finalist for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award and was recognized as the Alexander Freshman of the Week twice, following his performances against Old Dominion and again against Texas A&M.

The Gamecocks placed three players on the Coaches’ All-Freshman team for the first time since 2021.

Offense

QB

LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina

RB

Caden Durham, LSU

Jadan Baugh, Florida*

Nate Frazier, Georgia*

WR

Ryan Williams, Alabama

Cam Coleman, Auburn

TE

Ethan Davis, Tennessee

OL

Bradyn Joiner, Auburn

Josiah Thompson, South Carolina

Bryce Lovett, Florida

Malachi Wood, Kentucky

C

DJ Chester, LSU

AP

Ryan Williams, Alabama

Defense

 DL

Dylan Stewart, South Carolina

Colin Simmons, Texas

Jayden Jackson, Oklahoma

Jordan Ross, Tennessee

LB

Jalen Smith, Tennessee

Chris Cole, Georgia*

Myles Graham, Florida*

Demarcus Riddick, Auburn*

DB

KJ Bolden, Georgia

Boo Carter, Tennessee

Zabien Brown, Alabama

Jay Crawford, Auburn

Special Teams

PK

Brock Taylor, Vanderbilt

P

Tyler White, Texas A&M

RS

Boo Carter, Tennessee

KOS

Aeron Burrell, LSU

LS

Gannon Burt, Florida

(* – Ties)