South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback LaNorris Sellers (16) wears the Old Leather Helmet after defeating the Virginia Tech Hokies at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

LaNorris Sellers shows why he will be hot prospect in 2026 NFL Draft

By Adam Gretz | Last updated Aug 31, 2025 7:16 PM ET

The 2026 NFL Draft class is expected to be one of the deeper quarterback classes in recent memory. Texas' Arch Manning, Clemson's Cade Klubnik, LSU's Garrett Nussmeier and Penn State's Drew Allar are the names that have drawn the most attention a year out.

There is another name that is rapidly playing his way into that discussion, and it is South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers. He demonstrated why during the Gamecocks' 24-11 season-opening win over Virginia Tech on Sunday afternoon.

It wasn't necessarily because of his numbers or overall production, either. It was the skillset and the toolbox that will make him such a hot prospect in the class.

He not only showed off what is one of the strongest arms in the nation, but also his ability to run the ball with both speed and punishing power.

He opened the scoring for South Carolina in the first quarter with a 15-yard touchdown run that saw him bulldoze his way into the end zone, running over Virginia Tech defenders to get into the end zone.

LANORRIS SELLERS WITH THE FIRST TOUCHDOWN OF THE 2025 SEASON ‍ pic.twitter.com/icg0ibkbYH
— South Carolina Football (@GamecockFB) August 31, 2025

That is a quarterback running people over. That is not normal, and it is going to get the attention of scouts and NFL teams.

He showed off that speed-power combination again in the fourth quarter when he shook off two different defenders as part of a 16-yard run.

Just insane from LaNorris Sellers pic.twitter.com/wwBTLawZbE
— Jimmy Randazzo (@JimmyRandazzo) August 31, 2025

It was not just his legs making plays. While he had some rocky moments in the passing game against a tough Virginia Tech defense, he still showed off his arm with a 64-yard touchdown pass to Nyck Harbor to help put the game out of reach.

TALK YOUR TALK! pic.twitter.com/FSWzjis4iZ
— South Carolina Football (@GamecockFB) August 31, 2025

He finished the day completing 12-of-19 passes for 209 yards, while his rushing total only ended up as 24 yards.

At first glance, those numbers are rather pedestrian. But the rushing yards are hurt because he lost a lot of his total due to taking sacks (sacks count against your rushing yards as a college quarterback), and it really isn't even about the numbers for him in this game anyway. It's all about the skills.

And a 6-foot-3, 240-pound quarterback that can run with that speed, dominate with that power and throw a football with that much authority and velocity is going to be a top prospect for the NFL. He still has a ways to go, but he showed on Sunday why teams are going to be very interested in him in April.

Adam Gretz

Adam Gretz is a freelance writer based in Pittsburgh. He covers the NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA. Baseball is his favorite sport -- he is nearly halfway through his goal of seeing a game in every MLB ballpark. Catch him on Twitter @AGretz

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