LaNorris Sellers isn’t just South Carolina’s QB1. He’s the guy meant to shine in the spotlight in 2025. This guy’s built different, and his 2024 numbers say it all. He passed for 2,534 yards and 18 TDs while also adding 674 yards and seven scores with his legs. This isn’t your average dual-threat QB. He was not only named the University of South Carolina’s Male Athlete of the Year, but he also won All-SEC honors, SEC Freshman of the Year awards and also made it to Freshman All-American teams too. But there’s also one concern that could deter this bright optimism. 

In the May 11th episode of Josh Pate’s College Football Show, Josh Pate made a bold prediction. “LaNorris Sellers can be a Heisman Trophy winner. So they can be that good at quarterback,” he said. That’s not just some throwaway line. The CFB analyst got South Carolina at No. 18 in his post-spring rankings. And it’s almost entirely because of their returning QB. That’s how highly he thinks of him. And honestly, he’s not wrong to think so.

LaNorris Sellers was electric last November. He caught fire and didn’t cool off. Six straight wins to close the regular season. A program record of touchdowns in a single month (11 passing TDs and two rushing scores). All that as a redshirt freshman. That’s a terrifying show for opposing defenses heading into 2025. 

Right now, FanDuel has him with the 6th-best Heisman odds at +1600 tied with Florida QB DJ Lagway, Penn State’s Drew Allar, and Oregon’s Dante Moore. That’s just not respect. That’s national-level recognition. Only QBs like LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier, Texas’ Arch Manning, Clemson’s Cade Klubnik, and Ohio State’s Julian Sayin are ahead of him. LaNorris Sellers is already in elite company, and the spotlight’s getting brighter.

No Gamecock has touched the Heisman since George Rogers in 1980. That’s ancient history in CFB terms. But if Sellers keeps evolving, he could change history. Still, Shane Beamer and his squad aren’t without problems, especially when it comes to the running backs room.

LaNorris Sellers faces tension with a messy backfield

While the QB room might be settled, the backfield is a different story. Josh Pate pointed out the concern, saying, “The running back room’s kind of up in the air because of eligibility. We’re still trying to figure that out.” Well, all eyes are on Utah State transfer Rahsul Faison, who put up over 1,100 yards last season. Shane Beamer’s plan was simple—plug him in as RB1 and let LaNorris Sellers cook with a balanced offense. But the NCAA is dragging its feet on his waiver for a fifth year. And no Gamecock is pleased about it. 

As Brad Crawford from 247Sports said, “If Faison is not eligible this fall, that leaves South Carolina with three scholarship running backs. They’re going to be extremely thin at that position.” Yeah, SC’s got Oscar Adaway, Jawarn Howell, and Bradley Dunn. But they need depth and talent levels like Faison.

Cooper Petagna also shed light on Shane Beamer’s offseason mistake—“They didn’t add another running back. So this is potentially a potential big issue for South Carolina, and as Brad said, having three running backs is very very thin… Typically the number in that room is five or six that you want.” So, the delay in the NCAA verdict has turned into a big roadblock for the Gamecocks. 

South Carolina opens the 2025 season against Virginia Tech on August 31 in Atlanta. With LaNorris Sellers at the helm, the ceiling’s high. But if the run game doesn’t come together? The spotlight might burn out.