Shane Beamer and the South Carolina Gamecocks have announced their starting quarterback.
After a hotly contested fall camp battle between redshirt freshman LaNorris Sellers and Auburn Tigers transfer Robby Ashford, Sellers was named the starter on Tuesday.
Jordan Kaye, the Gamecocks’ beat reporter for Columbia, SC’s The State, had the news first.
Shane Beamer says LaNorris Sellers will be the starting quarterback.
— Jordan Kaye (@jordankaye_23) August 20, 2024
Sellers is an intriguing option for the Gamecocks. He appeared sparingly last season behind Spencer Rattler, throwing just four passes. All four were completed, and two went for touchdowns, both against the Furman Paladins. He added 86 rushing yards in his brief appearances, including a 36-yard touchdown against the Vanderbilt Commodores.
Ashford started nine games for Auburn in 2022 and was 123-for-250 for 1,613 yards. He had seven touchdowns to go along with seven interceptions. He spent 2023 as backup to Payton Thorne and attempted just 27 passes for 145 yards.
While Sellers won’t have 2023 second-team All-SEC wide receiver Xavier Legette, who was selected by the Carolina Panthers in April’s NFL Draft, at his disposal this season, the Gamecocks do have 2022 first-team All-SEC running back Rocket Sanders, who transferred to the school from the Arkansas Razorbacks.
South Carolina, who were picked to finish 12th in the SEC in the conference’s preseason poll, opens its season on August 31 against the Old Dominion Monarchs.
