South Carolina QB LaNorris Sellers receives strong backing

South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback LaNorris Sellers could pull a Cam Ward and play himself into becoming the No. 1 overall pick in next year’s NFL Draft.

Moreover, Sellers might be a dark horse for the Heisman Trophy this season. Josh Pate, host of “Josh Pate’s College Football Show,” is particularly high on what Sellers could achieve for the Gamecocks in 2025.

During an appearance on “Up & Adams,” Pate stated that for him, Sellers has been overlooked and could surprise fans and analysts alike with his play this season.

“I would say LaNorris Sellers has the chance, out of all these guys, to be the story of the year,” Pate told host Kay Adams. “I know there’s a little Kansas City Chiefs thing going on, where it feels like we’re overlooking Arch [Manning].

“I’m not low on Arch or anything like that, but I think he’s properly priced in the market here. LaNorris Sellers could be the number one overall pick in the draft. This time next year, we’re talking about South Carolina replacing the top overall pick in the draft the way we’re talking about Miami right now.”

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Pate went on to spotlight the characteristics that Sellers has that can prove to vital for South Carolina, who enter the season ranked No. 13 in the AP Top 2025 preseason poll. As a result, their College Football Playoff hopes will ride on Sellers’ play this season.

“He is incredibly dynamic,” Pate added. “I think he has just scratched the surface of what he’s capable of this year. They really worked on his pocket presence, pocket awareness in spring and summer because he’s got all the athleticism in the world.

“The one thing I’ve been following with him, and if our South Carolina insiders that I talk to are right, then this needs to be paid attention to, is I’ve doubted his wide receiver room…

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“They swear that they’ve got one of the more underrated wide receiver rooms in the SEC. I still got to see it. But if they’re right, then LaNorris Sellers is priced way too low there. And you’ll know early because they play Virginia Tech in Week 1.”

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