The Gamecocks might have had a 4-8 season this year, but the momentum seems to have not been lost. Many signs now point to HC Shane Beamer returning strong in the 2026 season, as he did in 2024. To do that, the head coach has finally brought back his most lethal weapon to Columbia in 2026: LaNorris Sellers.

According to reports, Gamecocks’ QB1 LaNorris Sellers is set to return for the 2026 season. ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that the program is “nearing a deal” with Sellers and both parties are expected to finalize it “soon.” Moreover, the QB has also made his intentions clear to South Carolina’s staff about his decision not to register for the 2026 NFL draft. In light of the development, let’s delve into what lies ahead for the Florence, South Carolina native, who has two years of eligibility left.

How many years of eligibility are left for LaNorris Sellers?

Sellers has been the engine for the South Carolina offense ever since he joined the team in 2023. In that year, the 6’3″ and 240 lbs QB redshirted and accumulated 86 passing yards. In his stead, the Gamecocks’ offense was spearheaded by QB Spencer Rattler, who passed for 3,026 yards and rushed for 104. Sellers developed behind him, learning the craft, perfecting those deep balls, and developing his rushing talent. When his time came in 2024, only a few were better than him.

The QB1 started his first game against Old Dominion and passed for 114 yards, rushing for another 68. Then on, Sellers didn’t look back and was pivotal in defeating teams like Texas A&M and Clemson. In total, the QB accumulated 2,534 passing yards and rushed for a whopping 674. This year, the QB has somewhat dipped in form, more so because of Shane Beamer’s struggling offense. And his decision aligns with preserving his already high draft stock.

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Players in college football are allowed to play four full seasons, in 5 years’ worth of time. So far, Sellers has started in just two years and redshirted in his first year. That makes Sellers eligible for two more years to play college ball. But it’s worth speculating if the QB1 will stay in Shane Beamer’s camp or decide to enter the transfer portal come January.

Could LaNorris Sellers enter the transfer portal?

South Carolina struggled massively on offense this season. The QB got minimal protection, and the team gave up 43 sacks, ranked 133rd nationally. Factor in, Gamecocks’ weak rushing offense, ranked 120th nationally. The team had to rely solely on Sellers for rushing plays, and that also created injury situations for the QB. All of it was the reason Sellers had remained noncommittal to Shane Beamer just two weeks ago.

“I mean, when the decision comes to make a decision, when time comes to make a decision, I’ll make the decision that works best for me,” said Sellers. CBS Sports also released a story where the Gamecocks’ QB was graded to be a “swing player.” That created speculations as to whether Sellers would remain with the team or not. But not anymore.

Though the transfer portal opens up on January 2, expect Sellers to stay put in Columbia. The QB1 already has several NIL deals to his name with T-Mobile, Beats by Dre, and The SC Collective. In total, the QB is earning a whopping $3.7 million per year, as per his NIL value. So, this year, with additional deals locked in and revenue sharing in place, the motivation would be less to join other camps. But that’s not the only reason why.

Why LaNorris Sellers is a key QB for the Gamecocks’ future?

The team is now moving into a different offensive direction for the 2026 season. Beamer has completely overhauled his offensive staff and also hired Kendal Briles as OC. Briles’ reputation to build QB-friendly offenses is the prime reason for Sellers’ stay in Columbia. Plus, the OC has also acknowledged the role Sellers is going to play on his team.

“We all want LaNorris to be involved with this football program and be the starting quarterback, so hopefully that’s where this thing leads. He’s touching the ball every single snap. I’m not going to go out there and ask him to do something that he’s not great at,” said Briles at his inaugural presser. The OC is bringing a proven pedigree, and the redshirt sophomore fits in the offense like a glove.

Briles was the offensive coordinator at Arkansas from 2020 to 2022. There, the 43-year-old tailored his offense to match QB KJ Jefferson’s strengths. So, expect more creative QB runs beyond basic options. Quick passing schemes will be another aspect where Sellers can thrive, something Briles will come with. RPOs will be tailored to Sellers to exploit defenses, compared to 2025’s vertical heavy schemes. All of it is a recipe to succeed, and Sellers is coming for greatness.