This season, LaNorris Sellers, the South Carolina QB1, has been generating buzz around his pro future. He has been the lone ray of hope in an otherwise dismal season for the Gamecocks. The 20-year-old has shown glimpses of his potential, but his mistakes have cost them a lot, especially in the last game against Alabama. He is a top pick for a lot of people. But Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt isn’t among them.

Klatt doesn’t seem to buy into the hype around Sellers during the latest episode of CFB ON FOX. “You gotta bake the cake first before you put frosting on it… But you gotta understand, you’ve gotta make the cake first. Sellers is a terrific player, and he’ll certainly be thought of highly in the NFL draft. I think he’s gonna be a top 10 pick. I’m not saying that he’s bad, but I’m just saying if you compare their games, the game that Ty Simpson plays directly correlates to the National Football League.”Here, the frosting represents Sellers’ athletic and playmaking abilities. While he has plenty of that, he lacks foundational skills like pocket precision, anticipation, and decision-making, represented by the cake.

A comparison with Ty Simpson may look a little harsh, considering the lack of support and options LaNorris Sellers has. But it’s only fair considering they both fight for the same spot in the draft. There is no doubt that he has been an absolute revelation for the Gamecocks, their knight in shining armor more than once, especially this season. All these abilities of his were on full display in his freshman year as he terrorized SEC defenses with his dual-threat game. But since last season, his opponents have analyzed him and adapted to his style of play.

Forcing him into difficult positions where he has to rely upon the basics. Which isn’t exactly an area he excels. Klatt continued,” Maybe that guy will succeed down the road, but to me, the first pick in the draft is gonna become a discussion between Mendoza at Indiana and Ty Simpson at Alabama. Uh, Sellers is wonderful, but he doesn’t control the game from the pocket like those two do.” Again, highlighting the 20-year-olds’ lack of precision and inability to exploit pockets of space. Numbers back these claims.

More importantly, his issues become more evident when faced with the best in business. Comprising elite talent, similar to the challenges he’s likely to face in the NFL. LaNorris Sellers struggles noticeably against elite competition. Against ranked opponents in 2025, he posted a 61.5 QBR as per ESPN. Through eight games this season, his rushing production has plummeted dramatically from last season’s average of 4.1 yards per attempt. He has accumulated just 175 rushing yards on 102 carries, averaging a meager 1.7 yards per attempt.

Even his passing game has faltered at a crucial stage. Against Alabama, LaNorris Sellers made a few mistakes on overthrown balls and had one costly interception. But the real heartbreak was his late fourth-quarter fumble. Meanwhile, the Gamecocks are having a season to forget as they are 3-5 so far.

South Carolina’s 2025 Collapse

The Gamecocks entered the 2025 season ranked 13th. Following a promising 2024 campaign and positive offseason expectations, their first preseason ranking since 2014, where they were ranked 9th. After dominating Virginia Tech and South Carolina State to start 3-0, Shane Beamer’s team appeared positioned for a potential SEC run. However, the program has since spiraled into one of the SEC’s worst seasons.

Sitting at 3-5 overall (1-5 SEC) and 13th in conference standings as of now. The Gamecocks have experienced a bad run in the SEC with their lone victory against Kentucky. While suffering defeats to ranked opponents, Missouri, LSU, Oklahoma, and Alabama. Their offensive issues under new offensive coordinator Mike Shula have proven fatal. South Carolina managed only 107.1 rushing yards and 195 passing yards per game. The defense has ranked in the top half nationally, but cannot overcome consistent offensive shortcomings. LaNorris Sellers has been unable to consistently execute from the pocket, forcing defenses to stack the box against a rushed running game.

That averages just 3.2 yards per carry across the season, leaving the offense predictable and easily tackled. Moving ahead, South Carolina faces Ole Miss and Texas A&M, two ranked programs. Before finishing against Coastal Carolina and Clemson. With their playoff hopes dashed completely and their bowl eligibility hanging by a thread. The Gamecocks need a turnaround from both Sellers and their offensive system to salvage what promised to be a breakthrough season.