LaNorris Sellers Trending Toward Return as Gamecocks, Beamer Focus on 2026 Vision
South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer isn’t one to play coy when it comes to the direction of his program, and on Wednesday afternoon, he made it clear: the Gamecocks are working hard to keep quarterback LaNorris Sellers in Columbia - and signs are pointing in the right direction.
Appearing on 107.5 The Game with Jay Philips and Terry Ford, Beamer opened up about his ongoing conversations with Sellers, the 6-foot-3, 245-pound redshirt sophomore who just wrapped up his second season as South Carolina’s starting quarterback. And while nothing is officially inked, the tone from Beamer was optimistic.
“We’ve had great conversations,” Beamer said. “There are still some details to work out, but everything has been really positive.”
Sellers, who threw for 2,437 yards and 13 touchdowns this season while completing just over 60 percent of his passes, continues to be a central figure in the Gamecocks’ long-term plans. His dual-threat ability - nearly 5,000 passing yards and 33 touchdowns through the air, plus 995 rushing yards and 13 scores on the ground over two seasons - gives South Carolina a dynamic presence under center. But Beamer emphasized that neither he nor Sellers are satisfied with “good enough.”
“He’ll be the first to tell you - he needs to play better,” Beamer said. “And we need to coach him better.
We need to be better around him. It’s a shared responsibility.”
That sense of accountability has been a theme in their conversations, which, according to Beamer, have been ongoing throughout the year - not just since the season ended. It’s clear that Sellers is being viewed not just as a quarterback, but as a leader, someone who sets the tone for the program both on and off the field.
And in today’s college football landscape - where players have agents, NIL opportunities, and a constantly shifting transfer portal - maintaining that connection between coach and quarterback is more important than ever. Beamer knows it, and he’s leaning into it.
“My conversations with LaNorris have been fantastic,” he said. “This isn’t just about football.
It’s about how he grows as a player and a person. He wants to be great, and we want to help him get there.”
Beamer also made it clear that Sellers isn’t alone in his belief that 2026 could be a special season for South Carolina. The quarterback and several other returning players are already looking ahead with purpose.
“All indications I’ve had from LaNorris are, he wants to be here,” Beamer said. “He knows the job’s not finished. There’s a lot of excitement about 2026.”
That kind of mindset - unfinished business, hunger for growth, and a quarterback who understands the weight of leadership - is exactly what you want heading into a pivotal offseason. If Sellers does indeed return, South Carolina won’t just be bringing back a talented playmaker. They’ll be bringing back a quarterback who’s ready to elevate the entire program.