Everyone just wants a piece of the South Carolina Gamecocks’ QB1 LaNorris Sellers. The rising redshirt sophomore has all the tools: a rocket arm, dynamic mobility, and the kind of playmaking instincts that make coaches lose sleep trying to defend him. And after a season where he tallied 2,546 yards and 18 touchdowns, the hype train isn’t just rolling—it’s at full speed. While everyone wants to talk about QB1, Shane Beamer and his staff have much bigger concerns—ones that no single quarterback, no matter how gifted, can fully mask.

No doubt a dynamic starter. But for all the optimism around LaNorris Sellers, there’s a stark reality hiding beneath the surface in Columbia. The biggest red flag? The trenches. That SEC Podcast insiders put South Carolina at the top of their list of “biggest spring question marks,” and it wasn’t just because of the brutal schedule that starts with Virginia Tech on Aug. 31.

“Mike, I’ve got two sort of areas that I’m really watching this spring,” they noted. “And one of them is kind of combined two things into one, and it’s the line of scrimmage. I think we’ll start there for South Carolina. Three new starters on the interior. Also, four defensive tackles who played major snaps last year are gone.” In the SEC, a weak line of scrimmage is a death sentence. South Carolina knows this firsthand.

The Gamecocks gave up 41 sacks last season—ranking 123rd in the country. That number would’ve been even worse if not for Sellers’ ability to escape pressure and turn chaos into yardage. “I think we can all admit it’d be a lot higher number if not for LaNorris Sellers being such a dynamic athlete. Nine out of ten quarterbacks are probably not the athlete he is.” That’s the problem. South Carolina is in a position where their quarterback has to be superhuman just to keep the offense functional. Sellers can extend plays, but he can’t block for himself. And while he’s a special athlete, asking him to shoulder that kind of burden for an entire season—against SEC defenses, no less—is a dangerous game.

The team is banking on Josiah Thompson, their blue-chip left tackle, to be an anchor. “Now we we we’ve got what’s his name, Josiah Thompson on left tackle. He could…he could be elite. So I’m not saying it’s like an awful line, but going from year one to year two, if you got left tackle figured out, you’re doing better than the vast majority of college football right out the gate.” There’s potential, sure, but potential doesn’t stop SEC pass rushers from wrecking a game plan. The interior remains a major question mark, even with three potential starters coming in from the transfer portal.

Then there’s the defensive line, which might be an even bigger issue. Kyle Kennard was a force last season, and his departure leaves a void that won’t be easily filled. “So yeah, oh, but I think if I had to pick one or the other, Stephen, I think I’m no defensive line because of how many veterans they had, Kyle Kennard was just lights out and I never in a million years would imagine he was going to be that caliber.”

Dylan Stewart has the potential to be a star, but he’s now the focal point for opposing offensive lines. “He probably is [better], but you know, he can’t carry the load by himself.” Without depth on the interior, Stewart could face double-teams all season long. And in the SEC, that’s how promising edge rushers get neutralized.

Wide receiver depth is another looming concern. Sellers has the raw talent to take a leap as a passer, but who’s making plays for him? “Part two of that is what happens at receiver, and I think you have to be kind of optimistic that maybe Nick Harbor, maybe Jared Brown, some of those guys take a step forward.” Those are big maybes. South Carolina needs more than flashes—they need consistency. If Harbor and Brown don’t take significant steps forward, Sellers will be throwing to a largely unproven group. The pressure on the young QB to elevate the offense grows even heavier. “If you expect LaNorris Sellers to take that next step forward as a passer, you’re going to need some help at receiver.”

All of this creates a paradox. Shane Beamer is being talked about as a playoff contender, but their foundation is shaky.

Rival defenders rave about LaNorris Sellers

Even though LaNorris Sellers wasn’t at last week’s NFL Combine, his name was still making waves. Several top draft prospects couldn’t help but give the South Carolina quarterback his flowers during interviews with CBS Sports’ Ryan Wilson—and let’s just say, defenders aren’t exactly thrilled about having faced him.

Texas A&M star pass rusher Shemar Stewart was quick to name Sellers as one of his toughest college opponents, and his comparison was a major compliment. “LaNorris Sellers… Man, he is prime-time Cam (Newton)!” Stewart said, referencing the former Heisman winner and NFL MVP. He didn’t stop there, adding, “That boy strong, I ain’t going to lie to you. I don’t know what they’re feeding him over there.” Clearly, Sellers left a lasting impression.

His Aggie teammate Nic Scourton had a slightly different, but equally entertaining, take. “He’s talented. I really dislike that guy. Nothing against him as a person—I’ve heard he’s a really good person—but I really dislike him,” Scourton admitted. His reason? “He hurts defenders when they try to tackle him.”

That’s the ultimate sign of respect—when defensive stars genuinely hate going up against you. But surely there’s a need for improvement.