LaNorris Sellers Predicted to be Top Quarterback in the Nation in 2026: Report

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Steph Dwilson | Last updated May 12, 2025 5:47 PM ET

South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback LaNorris Sellers is predicted to be the top quarterback in the nation in the 2026 NFL Draft, according to an ESPN analyst. But another analyst wasn't quite as sure, and instead put Clemson's quarterback in a tie with Sellers.

In an NFL Mock Draft broadcast on YouTube, ESPN's Kevin Clark predicted that Sellers would go first in the 2026 draft.

Clark said about Sellers: "He's my number one... He had production. He played well last year, played well in big games. Some of his throws were just phenomenal... Felt to me, watching his cutups... that he needs to keep his eyes downfield a little better... When he gets in trouble, his default is to run, which with that speed it would be my default too... At the NFL level, they're gonna want to see you just hang in the pocket and make more of those decisions. Having said that, I think he's a phenom... By this time next year, I think he's going to be the number one royal pick."

Jordan Reid of ESPN had a different opinion. He put Sellers and Cade Klubnik of Clemson as essentially tied for the first draft pick of 2026.

Klubnik, Reid said, "is not as physically gifted as some of the other quarterbacks in this year's class. He's not a LaNorris Sellers. He's not even as physically gifted as Drew Allar. But when I look at Clemson this year, I think they're set up to make a huge run in college football. And I think they are a strong contender to win the national title this year, just because I look at what they have coming back."

However, Reid added, Sellers is basically tied with Klubnik because he's a "Ferrari" of college quarterbacks.

"He has so much horsepower to his game," Reid said. "He was only 18 years old last year. Started as a redshirt freshman, and you saw it in so many glimpses with him. I've made the comparison of Donovan McNabb to him, but even stronger than what McNabb was coming out of Syracuse... I was there for the LSU game where he was incredible in that one... He had, I think it was, a 75-yard run right up the middle of that defense. That's one where I was like, 'OK, I need to go ahead and jot this kid's name down for next year.' But he has all the tools that you want of a number one overall pick."

Reid added that Sellers was at "level one" last season, and he's hoping to see him reach level three or four this season.

"If he's able to do that, man, I think he's a very strong contender to be a number one overall pick," Reid said.