South Carolina star QB LaNorris Sellers (head) could play vs. Missouri

Field Level Media|published: Thu 18th September, 15:22 2025

Sep 13, 2025; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback LaNorris Sellers (16) lays on the field after being injured against the Vanderbilt Commodores in the second quarter at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images

South Carolina star quarterback LaNorris Sellers is making progress from a head injury and could be available when the Gamecocks visit No. 23 Missouri on Saturday.

Sellers, a preseason Heisman Trophy candidate, was listed as questionable on the SEC availability report on Wednesday evening, an encouraging development for South Carolina.

Sellers sustained a head injury late in the second quarter of last Saturday's 31-7 home loss to Vanderbilt. Langston Patterson of the Commodores was called for targeting on the play and ejected.

Gamecocks coach Shane Beamer declined to pinpoint Sellers' status on Tuesday, while acknowledging a declaration would have to be made Wednesday.

Beamer also said that players who don't practice on Tuesday and Wednesday won't play in the game.

"Yeah, we have a pretty consistent policy if you don't practice Tuesday or Wednesday, you're not going to play," Beamer said at his Tuesday press conference. "I don't care who you are, if you don't get out there and practice on Tuesdays and Wednesdays especially, it's really tough to just practice on Thursday. ...

"So whether you're an offensive player, a defensive player, or a special teams player, we need to be able to see you do something on Tuesday or Wednesday."

Sellers, in his third college season, is considered a first-round selection in the 2026 NFL Draft should he decide to enter the draft. Some prognosticators rate him as one of the top overall players in the draft.

This season, Sellers has passed for 431 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in three games. He also has rushed for a score.

In 2024, Sellers completed 65.6 percent of his passes for 2,534 yards, 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also ran for 674 yards and seven scores.

Beamer said Tuesday that sixth-year senior Luke Doty would start if Sellers can't play against the Tigers. Doty replaced Sellers against Vanderbilt and was 18-of-27 passing for 148 yards and one interception. The Gamecocks didn't score any points during his time on the field.

--Field Level Media