LaNorris Sellers Too Similar to Colts’ QB Anthony Richardson

It was Deja Vu evaluating South Carolina quarterback (QB) LaNorris Sellers in 2024.

The resemblance to Colts’ QB Anthony Richardson back when he played at the University of Florida was uncanny.

Richardson went first round to Indianapolis (No. 4) in the 2023 NFL Draft. I put a fifth-round grade on Richardson and labeled him as a bust pre-draft.

Richardson has only confirmed my evaluation with 59.5 and 47.7 completion percentages in his first two NFL seasons.

Granted, Sellers shows a higher football IQ and better accuracy than Richardson on film, but his style of play is the same.

Sellers is another glorified option quarterback, just like Richardson.

What does that mean?

Sellers is another one of these quarterbacks who runs too much and doesn’t have the necessary pure quarterbacking skillset that translates to success in the NFL (at this point).

Could that change?

He’s got a lot of stuff to clean up.

What’s the main problem?

His footwork.

Sellers’ footwork as a passer IS ALL OVER THE ROAD. Said another way, Sellers is a better off-platform passer moving around and waiting for receivers to uncover than working from the pocket. Heck, why stop now? I like Sellers better as a runner than as a passer when it comes to an NFL projection.

Over the past few decades, quarterbacks have relied on traditional three, five, and seven-step drops to sync their passes with the routes of their receivers.

That’s not Sellers.

He marches to the beat of his own drummer, and his downfield accuracy and ball placement suffer as a result.

3.30 seconds

That was Sellers’ time to throw in 2024 per Pro Football Focus.

YIKES!

The slowest time to throw in the NFL (2024 Next Gen Stats) was 3.14 seconds (Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson).

Eye Test

I am questioning Sellers’ eyesight.

He wore goggles at one point and then reportedly switched to contacts before the LSU game (247Sports). “It’s crazy. you can still see, but everything is so much brighter. You can see a lot more, honestly.”

Sellers’ head coach Shane Beamer had this to say in that report (Sept. 14, 2024):

“I went to him at practice, and I said, ‘Hey, bud, you be you. I know there is a picture floating around on social media of your goggles and you can’t see. Don’t do this just because you think you are supposed to,'” Beamer said. “He was like, ‘I am not. I just want to try contacts.’

There were a couple of blitzes (one open side) and another right up the middle, and he didn’t even flinch before they hit him.

Big Play Capability

Watching Sellers on film is like playing BINGO. They call numbers and call numbers, someone yawns, and they call another number and BINGO!

Sellers has the uncanny ability to unpredictably produce some big plays with his short and deep passes, and also with his legs.

#16 LaNorris Sellers 6-foot-3, 242 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s 2025 Spring Grade: Fourth-Round (I wouldn’t select him)

Projected by 80.0% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of May 17, 2025 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

2024 game film evaluated: Old Dominion, Kentucky, LSU, Ole Miss, Alabama, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt, Missouri, Wofford, Clemson, and Illinois (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

Medical Risk: High

Right Leg Injury vs. Kentucky (2024)

Right Ankle Injury vs. LSU (2024)

Note: 18/7 TD/INT and 166 rushing attempts (2024)

2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Athletic feast or famine prospect. Flashes a well-timed process. Strong arm. Lots of arm confidence. Lacks touch. Inconsistent progressions. Some improv. Tunnel-visioned. Below-average pocket awareness. Enough body strength to pull away from the rush if he sees it. Tends to pat the ball pre-delivery. Most accurate short range. Periodically locks in with receivers. Erratic footwork mixed in with an unnecessary jump step that shows up in some of his dropbacks. Can rush or lean too much into his passes. Throws with average anticipation. Inconsistent layering passes. A tad reckless throwing and handling the football. 18 PBUs/12 games (1.5 avg.). 15/34 +20 air yards (44.1%). Some poor throwing decisions under heavy pressure. Tough runner. Below average at protecting his body.

What to watch for during the 2025 college football season

1. Better passing footwork?

2. Improved time to throw?

3. Eyesight?

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, and has written for Sports Illustrated (Lions, Jets, and 49ers), NFL Draft Diamonds, and Yardbarker, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. Follow on Twitter @firstroundmock.