Shane Beamer declares LaNorris Sellers ‘best player in the country,’ a Heisman contender
Here are highlights from what South Carolina football coach Shane Beamer said after South Carolina’s 17-14 win Saturday over in-state rival Clemson. The victory was the Gamecocks’ sixth straight and improved them to 9-3 on the season.
On LaNorris Sellers as Heisman hopeful
Sellers had 164 yards passing to go with 166 yards rushing and the Gamecocks’ two scores — including the 20-yard rush, a game-winner with 1:08 left in the fourth quarter.
He’s thrown for 2,274 yards on the season with 17 passing touchdowns. He has 655 yards rushing and 7 more scores on the ground.
“That kid is the best player in the country,” Beamer told ESPN on the air. “He might not have been in the Heisman (Trophy) conversation before today. If that guy is not in Heisman conversation, I don’t know who is. ... I’m so happy for him.”
He continued those sentiments with reporters.
“LaNorris Sellers is the best player in the country, and all you media people that vote on the Heisman, if you’re not voting for that guy in the midst of the Heisman Trophy, you’re out of your minds. Name a player in the country that’s done more than that kid has this year, particularly today, in the in the environments that he’s done it in, in the moments that he’s done it in.
“He put our team on his back today. We talked at halftime that Clemson had played a great first half, and a lot of their guys had made a lot of individual plays, and we needed our guys, our best players needed to step up and make plays, and that kid sure as hell did. What a performance to be third-and-forever down there that last drive, and for him to do what he did. He’s special.
“God blessed that man with a lot of God-given abilities. … He’s a winner. He’s special.”
On post-game meeting with Dabo Swinney
“I told Dabo after the game that no one deserved to lose that game. That is a class program and he is a class coach. Kathleen, his wife, came into the locker room and congratulated Emily and I. It tells you what kind of people they are. No disrespect to Miami, but I hope Syracuse wins that game and Clemson can go win the ACC championship as well.”
On team’s resiliency
“To overcome the stuff we had to overcome, some self-inflicted, and find a way to win at the end is really, really special. We talked before we came over here that we needed to have each other’s back. Offense picks up the defense and the defense picks up the offense. Both picked up special teams and we had a lot of that today. … We knew it was going to be a war. It was two great teams going at it. We wanted to get the thing into the fourth quarter and find a way to win it.”
On team’s playoff chances
“I do believe we deserve a spot in the 12-team playoff. I get it, the committee has a really tough job. They have to choose the 12 best teams. I get it, we got three losses.
“But it is hard for me to say we aren’t one of the 12 best teams in the country. When you look at our strength of schedule, our wins on the road (4-1 on the road) in tough environments. We aren’t playing in front of 20,000 people like some teams do. We go into hostile environments every single week. Our only loss on the road is a two-point loss.
“I get it, there are some deserving teams, but if the committee’s job is to pick the 12 best teams. You tell me on selection Sunday if South Carolina pops up in that bracket, I don’t know anyone that would be excited about playing this team. That is what I judge it on.”
This story was originally published November 30, 2024 at 4:21 PM.
