South Carolina QB LaNorris Sellers is a BIG Work in Progress

If you’ve been paying attention to any of the Way-Too-Early 2026 Mock Drafts, you’ve likely come across South Carolina QB (quarterback) LaNorris Sellers.

As the anticipation for the 2025 college football season ramps up, Sellers’ name is plastered everywhere.

Sites like CBS, DraftWire, Fansided, and Pro Football Network have all graded Sellers in the first round (nflmockdraftdatabase.com).

However, I’m not sold on him.

Background

Sellers was a three-star prospect out of high school and committed to South Carolina in December of 2022. He will be the second year Sellers has been their starter, and he will be 20 years old this season.

Sellers’ 2024 Stats:

• 196 completions
• 299 attempts (65.6%)
• 2,534 yards 
• 18 touchdowns
• 7 interceptions
• 166 carries for 674 yards (4.1 yards per carry average) – 7 rushing TDs

#16 LaNorris Sellers 6-foot-3, 242 pounds 
Rajvir Bal’s Summer 2026 NFL Draft Grade: Second-Round (I wouldn’t select him)
Projected by 82.7% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of June 8, 2025 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

2024 game film reviewed: Clemson, Kentucky, Missouri, LSU, and Alabama (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

Exceptional Improviser

This is probably the best aspect of Sellers’ game.

He frequently faces pressure due to South Carolina’s poor offensive line, but has quickly learned to adapt. He can also extend plays with good speed behind the line of scrimmage, and when defenders crash in on him in the pocket, Sellers can evade them more often than not.

His throw on the run ability is among the best I’ve seen.

He’s no less accurate on the run than he is when he sets his feet in a clean pocket. This prospect plays best out of structure, which is both a blessing and a curse.

Locking Onto Progressions

Where Sellers’ best trait is improvisational ability, his worst is a nasty tendency to lock onto his first progression. Truthfully, I don’t understand what’s growing through his mind. Why is he so unable to switch up his progressions and locate the open receiver?

This is a trait that is detrimental to his abilities as a QB, as locking onto progressions will send him straight to the bench in the NFL.

Arm Talent

Sellers showcases above-average arm talent on film. He has all the natural abilities to make NFL throws down the field, plus a big arm and solid accuracy.

If Sellers entered the league today, he would already be above average in arm strength and close to league average in accuracy.

Holds Onto the Ball Too Long

He is too indecisive in certain situations.

Sellers runs into sacks way too often (2024: 33 sacks) and continuously puts himself in risky situations. Against pressure, his first instinct is to run away, not step into a throw and deliver an accurate pass.

Sellers’ taking a long time to throw is sure to frustrate coaches in the NFL, and limits him from hitting his ceiling.

Work In Progress

Sellers isn’t an NFL QB- not yet, at least.

The outline is there- big arm, excellent mobility, and solid accuracy. He simply needs to put it all together. I think there’s a chance he improves this season and plays himself into a first-round grade.

However, at the moment, there are too many question marks and setbacks to warrant anything higher than where I am currently projecting him. It’s a projection based on potential at this point, and that grade is subject to change based on his 2025 film.

Ten Adjectives

Athletic. Inconsistent. Dynamic. Raw. Improvisational. Indecisive. Powerful. Unpolished. Exciting. Frustrating.

Explaining the Grade

Sellers’ natural athletic ability and big arm talent are a combo that could prove to be a big deal in the NFL. These two traits raise his ceiling exponentially.

Thinking of him in the second round would allow for a team to develop him behind a starter, with the idea of eventually turning him into a franchise guy. For example, former 49ers’ QB Colin Kaepernick (2011 second-round pick) sat behind QB Alex Smith before becoming a full-time starter.

2024 Game Film Summary

At worst, Sellers is an incredible athlete who can keep the sideline warm. At best, he’s a franchise quarterback.

The 2025 season will be telling.

Rajvir Bal is a high school student from the Virginia area. He grew up a rabid Washington Redskins fan, attending more than 30 games, and has enjoyed the team’s high points and low points throughout his life. He plays varsity football and basketball. Rajvir has taken an interest in the NFL Draft since middle school when his team picked Montez Sweat and Dwayne Haskins in the first round. His favorite NFL player ever flips between Rob Gronkowski and Brett Favre, and his favorite athlete is LeBron James. He has been writing his own scouting reports since 2020, and is excited for the opportunities FirstRoundMock provides.