South Carolina got a scare Saturday when LaNorris Sellers went down in the second quarter against Texas A&M, but the quarterback returned to start the third quarter after leaving with an ankle injury.
The moment came on a sack at the Aggies’ 18-yard line, when Sellers was caught between defenders, lost a fumble and then had to be helped off the field. He was slow to rise, grabbed at his left ankle and made his way to the sideline with assistance from team trainers. A little later, with just over four minutes left before halftime, he walked out of the injury tent under his own power and headed toward the locker room.
At halftime, Shane Beamer said the staff was still waiting for more information.
"We’re concerned," South Carolina coach Shane Beamer told the ESPN broadcast at halftime. "He’s got an ankle, and he’s getting an X-ray on it. I don’t have anything else."
The Gamecocks entered the day at 5-3 and ranked No. 21 in the first College Football Playoff rankings after three straight wins, and Sellers has been the engine behind that push. He had already thrown for 151 yards and a touchdown before the injury, finishing 10-of-15 through the air at that point.
His recent run has been even more eye-catching. Sellers has accounted for 13 touchdowns during South Carolina’s current winning streak and was named the AP’s National Player of the Week after piling up 397 yards of total offense and five touchdowns at Oklahoma.
That performance included two huge off-script strikes: an 84-yard touchdown pass to DJ Black and a 79-yard throw to Mazeo Bennett, both delivered with Sellers outside the pocket. Beamer pointed to those plays afterward as examples of how well the Gamecocks handled scramble situations.
"Those are great plays. I mean, you worry about those plays from a protection standpoint, so you see him get the ball off," Beamer said after that win.
"And I’m proud of our guys, too. When the quarterback scrambles, it’s not like everybody just runs around blindly.
Like, we have a plan of what needs to happen when the quarterback scrambles, and we worked a lot of that on the bye week.
"We talked about it this morning in our staff meeting: that, make sure we’re big on scrambles because they’re really, really good on defense, and they’re probably going to get some pressure on our quarterback, and we’ve got a chance to hit some big plays in the passing game if we do. So, great to see those guys execute the scramble drills the right way."
In Other News...
Texas A&M's Thin Receiver Room Just Took Another Scare
Texas A&Ms receiving depth was already under pressure, and Mario Craver briefly added to the concern Saturday against South Carolina. The wideout left the game after appearing to injure his knee, then was able to return after the quarter break, a small but important relief for a position group that has been stretched thin.
The Aggies are already navigating absences from Terry Bussey and Ashton Bethel-Roman, which has pushed the next wave of receivers into bigger roles. TK Norman, Aaron Gregory and Jayden Warren are all expected to see more snaps, and every healthy body matters now as Texas A&M tries to keep its passing game functional through the injuries. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Faces A Season-Shaping Test It Can't Let Get Away
Texas A&M comes out of its bye week with plenty still hanging in the balance, heading to Columbia to face No. 21 South Carolina in a game that could shape the rest of its season. At 4-4, the Aggies are still looking to lock up bowl eligibility, and the timing of this trip makes it even more important. South Carolina, meanwhile, has won three straight and has quickly emerged as one of the SECs hottest teams, which gives this matchup a little more urgency than a typical November road test.
For A&M, the challenge is not just the opponent but the setting and the momentum the Gamecocks are carrying into the weekend. The preview around this game points to key players and a handful of factors that could swing things either way, which is exactly why the Aggies cannot afford to let this one slip. With bowl hopes still in play and the conference race tightening, this is the kind of game that can define how the season is remembered. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Faces A Road Test Fans Can't Ignore
Texas A&M comes out of its bye week with a road assignment that carries real weight, heading to Williams-Brice Stadium to face No. 21 South Carolina. The Aggies are still trying to sharpen their away form, and this trip also comes with the added incentive of locking up bowl eligibility. South Carolina, meanwhile, has built momentum with a three-game winning streak, which makes this one of the more revealing matchups left on the schedule.
The setup is especially worth watching because both sides are dealing with injury questions, adding another layer to a game that already has plenty riding on it. For fans tracking the Aggies, the broadcast details are part of the appeal too, since this is the kind of late-season road test that can shape how the rest of November feels. [Read more 🡒]