Aug 31, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback LaNorris Sellers (16) drops back to pass against the Virginia Tech Hokies during the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
LaNorris Sellers QB South Carolina |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #16 PLAY STYLE: Dual Threat QB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 11/03/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 4.60 seconds (90%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 21.4 DOB: 06/23/2005 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #16 | |
| PLAY STYLE: Dual Threat QB | |
| Last Updated: 11/03/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2027 | |
| Forty time: 4.60 seconds (90%*) | |
| Age: 21.4 DOB: 06/23/2005 | |
| Overall Rating: |
84.9 / 100
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| Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
| Defense Rating: |
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83% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Release Speed: |
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77% |
| Short Passing: |
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65% |
| Medium Passing: |
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73% |
| Long Passing: |
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86% |
| Rush/Scramble: |
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78% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
2nd - Late
Overall Rank:
#62
Position rank:
#9 (QB)
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| College Games: 33 College Snaps: 2023 | ||
ESPN RATING: 81/100
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247 RATING: 88/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.6 (92%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Riley Leonard - Notre Dame |
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83% |
| Cole Payton - North Dakota State |
|
75% |
| Desmond Ridder - Cincinnati |
|
74% |
Draft Profile: Bio
LaNorris Sellers threw for 2,948 yards and 45 touchdowns and ran for 1,338 yards and 17 more as a senior at South Florence High School, leading the school to a 4A state title and earning offensive MVP honors in the Shrine Bowl. He flipped his commitment from Syracuse to South Carolina and enrolled early in January 2023. His younger brother Jayden is a receiver at South Carolina.Sellers redshirted in 2023 and broke out as a starter in 2024, throwing for 2,534 yards and 18 touchdowns and running for 674 yards, a school record for a quarterback. He was SEC Freshman of the Year by the coaches and the FWAA's national freshman offensive player of the year, though an ankle injury against LSU cost him the Akron game. His 2025 season was harder: he threw for 2,437 yards, 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions, was sacked more than any SEC quarterback and took a helmet-to-helmet hit against Vanderbilt, and South Carolina finished 4-8.
Sellers returned for 2026 under his fourth offensive coordinator, Kendal Briles, saying South Carolina is home. He threw for 279 yards and four touchdowns and ran for another in the win at Florida, earning Walter Camp national offensive player of the week, ran for 96 yards and two touchdowns in the 27-24 win over Tennessee and threw for 301 yards and three scores in the win at Oklahoma. He has 1,847 passing yards, 16 touchdowns and seven interceptions plus 661 rushing yards and six scores for a 5-3 team.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Rare size and speed for a quarterback, with 661 rushing yards this season
- Five total touchdowns in the win at Florida, earning national player of the week
- Deep-ball touch that drops throws to receivers in stride downfield
- Breaks tackles as a runner, making 41 defenders miss this season
- Strong arm to drive the ball to every level of the field
- Played his best late in October, with 301 yards and three scores at Oklahoma
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Holds the ball too long, and sacks piled up behind a slow trigger in 2025
- Seven interceptions and five fumbles so far this season, too many giveaways
- Short accuracy is inconsistent, with completion rates around 60 percent
- Tennessee sacked him five times in the October win
Scouting Report: Summary
Sellers is a rare athlete at quarterback, a big, powerful runner with real speed and a strong arm. He breaks tackles like a running back, making 41 defenders miss on his way to 661 rushing yards this season, and his deep ball is his best throw, dropped to receivers in stride downfield. When he is on, he can take over a game, as he did at Florida with four touchdown passes and a rushing score. He also threw for a career-high 381 yards against Clemson in 2025.His 2026 season has been a clear improvement on 2025. Under Kendal Briles he has 16 touchdown passes in eight games, more than in all of last season, and he ran for 96 yards and two scores in the win over Tennessee before throwing for 301 yards and three touchdowns at Oklahoma. South Carolina is 5-3 after a 4-8 season, and he has been the engine of the offense. His 661 rushing yards are already approaching the 674 he ran for as a freshman, a school record for a quarterback.
However, the processing remains the main question. He holds the ball too long and was sacked more than any SEC quarterback in 2025, and Tennessee sacked him five times this October. His short accuracy is inconsistent, his completion rate has hovered around 60 percent, and he has seven interceptions and five fumbles this season. He has also worked under four offensive coordinators in four seasons, which has slowed his development as a passer.
Overall, Sellers has physical tools that few quarterbacks in the class can match, and the 2026 tape shows the passing game catching up. He projects as a second-round quarterback with the ceiling of a dynamic starter if his timing and decision-making keep improving, and the floor of a high-upside backup. His size, arm and running ability give an NFL offense a quarterback who can win outside of structure, a rare skill set.
How other scouting services rate LaNorris Sellers (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
48.6
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
9.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.