Sellers or Doty? How Missouri is preparing for South Carolina’s QB uncertainty
The health of South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers was one of the focal points Tuesday as Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz talked to the media.
The first question of Drinkwitz’s weekly press conference was about Sellers. And as Drinkwitz left the podium, he was even curious about any updates to the Gamecocks’ signal caller.
“Did Shane (Beamer) announce anything at his press conference?” Drinkwitz asked reporters.
South Carolina coach Shane Beamer didn’t give any specific updates on Sellers at his Tuesday press conference, deferring the Southeastern Conference injury report that will be released at 8 p.m. Wednesday.
Sellers has been reportedly dealing with a concussion he sustained near the end of the first half of Saturday’s 31-7 loss to Vanderbilt.
“I anticipate LaNorris to play” this week, Drinkwitz said.
Drinkwitz called Sellers a “cut above” the rest of the quarterbacks in the SEC and had praise for his playmaking ability.
Luke Doty played the rest of the game at QB against Vanderbilt and would start against the Tigers if Sellers doesn’t go. Drinkwitz said he recruited Doty out of Myrtle Beach High School when he was an assistant at North Carolina State from 2016-18.
As a freshman, Doty played against Missouri in 2020 and threw for 130 yards and rushed for 59 in the loss to the Tigers.
“Luke Doty has played a lot of college football. We played against him before. Really don’t think their scheme is going to change any,” Drinkwitz said. “He’s not LaNorris but he is a good, capable player. There are not two stylistic differences in the way that quarterback position is going to be played. So we are going to anticipate LaNorris to play but we will adjust if he does not.”
Sellers had one of his best games of his career against Missouri in 2024, throwing for 353 yards and five touchdowns in the win over the Tigers. Missouri transfer safety Jalen Catelon said it is more about focusing on the Gamecocks’ game plan, rather than who is at quarterback.
“You focus on the scheme and what they try to do and where they try to put people at it is breaking down the film and see where they try to attack because both quarterbacks have really good movement outside the pocket, making things happen,” Catelon said. “So it is all about containing and looking at the details and making sure everyone does their job.”
Missouri has been dealing with its own quarterback injury situation this season. Tigers QB Sam Horn fractured his right tibia on the first play of the season and is out for the year. Penn State transfer Beau Pribula has stepped in at quarterback and completed 76% of his passes for 791 yards and seven touchdowns.
The Tigers also have a dynamic running game. Running back Ahmad Hardy is coming off a 250-yard, three touchdown performance last week against Louisiana.
This story was originally published September 16, 2025 at 2:25 PM.
