Well, LaNorris Sellers isn’t just knocking on Clemson’s door; he’s ready to make waves for the second year running. Last season, the South Carolina redshirt freshman electrified college football, playing a key role in Shane Beamer’s team exceeding expectations with a 9-4 record. ESPN and FOX might have missed it, but defensive coordinators definitely noticed. Sellers has the makings of a quarterback who defines coaching legacies and haunts rivals’ dreams. And according to his father? He’s already pretty sure that Dabo Swinney’s Tigers are in for another tough time. That confidence? It’s starting to feel contagious in Columbia.

The stadium rocked, and LaNorris Sellers’ father still gets goosebumps just thinking about it. Asked by host Matt Dowell about his favorite moment last season, he immediately recalled the Missouri game. He described the scene: Luther Burden catching the winning pass, ‘Gonna Fly Now’ booming from the speakers, and a fan behind him complaining there was “too much time left.” And that 34-30 win against the Tigers made an instant impact on LaNorris Sellers’ father’s heart.

But here’s the kicker: South Carolina Sideline’s host Matt Dowell thought it was LaNorris Sellers’ stellar performance against Clemson that stayed with him. Well, the reality is, it was something Norris Sellers knew already, as he said, “No, he already said he wasn’t going to lose that game. Nah, he said that. He said that at the beginning of the season. Yeah, he’s not losing to Clemson.” No wonder Sellers kept his promise and won that game with a 17-14 margin. And, surprisingly, even this season, they are going to face each other. And if history repeats itself, Dabo Swinney and his team might have a hard time.

Now, that success didn’t come straight to him. LaNorris Sellers’ first college start was against Old Dominion, and he was immediately under pressure to perform. Down 19-16 in the fourth quarter and having missed a crucial third down, he led his team to victory, scoring a three-yard touchdown that secured a 23-19 win. From that point on, LaNorris demonstrated resilience, overcoming criticism and embracing the intensity of SEC football, proving he could handle high-pressure situations.

Behind the scenes, LaNorris honed his skills and confidence through consistent preparation. He attended early film sessions, practiced with veteran quarterback Spencer Rattler, and learned from Dowell Loggains, who challenged him weekly. These sessions improved his technique, boosted his football IQ, and prepared him to face top defenses, setting the stage for his success in key games throughout the season. That grind helped him to run past defenders on a third-and-16 touchdown run against Dabo Swinney’s team.

Now, all those efforts are paying off big time for him. South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers has earned a spot on the Manning Award Watch List, joining 26 other top quarterbacks. As a redshirt sophomore, Sellers has shown his dual-threat ability, throwing for 2,534 yards and 18 touchdowns and rushing for 674 yards and seven scores during his first season as the Gamecocks’ starter. His performance earned him Freshman All-American and SEC All-Freshman honors, showcasing his immediate impact and solidifying his place among college football’s rising stars.

But that’s not the only thing turning heads in Columbia.

Shane Beamer’s team’s ultimate turnaround

Shane Beamer is heading into the 2025 season brimming with confidence and a competitive fire. South Carolina’s head coach is openly embracing the heightened expectations, a sentiment backed by the team’s No. 13 preseason ranking in both the AP and coaches polls. Some voters even see the Gamecocks making the College Football Playoff.

But Shane Beamer isn’t slipping into it, as he understands that consistently meeting high expectations is crucial for South Carolina to become a top national team. “The best teams in the country, year in and year out, they’re in those preseason rankings every year,” he notes. So for him, his only aim is to maintain the level of consistency they are building upon. “All that matters is just what we do from this point forward,” he stated. He has confidence in his players, saying, “Now, do I think we’re a good team? Heck yeah. And we also have a lot of work to do.”

That “work” means ignoring both praise and criticism. Now, Shane Beamer confessed that proving the doubters wrong has quietly motivated them. “We didn’t really listen to it (last preseason) when everybody was telling us how terrible we were,” Beamer said, adding with a smile, “Well, maybe a little.” No wonder it did wonders for them, as South Carolina achieved a 9-3 record in 2024, surpassing preseason expectations for the third time in four years.

Now, following the same playbook, Shane Beamer stands firm at 13th position, and with hype, he’s also very well aware of the snub. That’s right; some prominent names like Greg McElroy and Brett McMurphy did leave them off their top 25 entirely. But Beamer didn’t flinch as he said, “We’re ranked 13th… also know there’s some prominent media members that put out their own little polls that we’re not in their top 25, so we’ve still got a lot to prove.” So, for him, that’s just the kind of motivation his team needs to make an early impact this year.