What ESPN’s Mel Kiper says about LaNorris Sellers’ current NFL Draft stock
Mel Kiper released his first “big board” for the 2026 NFL Draft on Tuesday. South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers is featured prominently on the list.
The ESPN NFL Draft guru has the South Carolina quarterback as the 21st-best draft prospect and fourth-best QB in next year’s draft. The 6-foot-3, 240-pound Sellers is only a redshirt sophomore, so he could return for another season at USC.
Kiper said Sellers has drawn comparisons to Josh Allen and Cam Newton.
“Sellers has all the talent in the world when it comes to physical traits,” Kiper wrote. The redshirt sophomore has great size for the QB position, a live arm and the mobility to pick up chunks of yardage on the ground (284 rushing yards in 2025),” Kiper wrote.
Sellers began the season with the fifth-best odds to win the Heisman Trophy. Since his breakout season in 2024, he’s been mentioned as a Top 5 NFL Draft pick and maybe even the first quarterback selected.
The Florence product has had an up-and-down season to start 2025, in part because of the team’s offensive line struggles. In six games, Sellers has completed 64% of his passes for 1,010 yards and four touchdowns, as well as one rushing score.
“Sellers hasn’t translated all those traits into consistent production,” Kiper wrote. “His ball location has been erratic, and his decision-making still isn’t there. On top of that, he has taken 19 sacks, seventh-most in the FBS. Sellers is still developing as a prospect, but you can’t teach his skill set. There will be teams that get excited about his potential.”
Oklahoma coach Brent Venables raved about Sellers at his Tuesday press conference. The Sooners travel to face South Carolina on Saturday.
“He’s just a freak,” Venables said. “He is really becoming an excellent quarterback. … He’s got great toughness and is hard to bring down.”
Sellers is one of four USC players listed by Kiper, who ranked the top 25 overall players and top five or 10 players at each position. Brandon Cisse is rated as the fourth-best cornerback, while Nyck Harbor is the ninth-best receiver and Jalon Kilgore is the ninth-best safety.
Three Clemson players also made Kiper’s board, with two — defensive end Peter Woods and outside linebacker TJ Parker — ranked at No. 1 for their positions. The Tigers’ Avieon Terrell is ranked as the second-best cornerback.
Kiper ranks Woods as the fifth-best draft prospect.
“Woods hasn’t been elite in 2025, but the skill set is exactly what NFL teams covet. He just needs to finish strong over the second half of the season,” Kiper wrote.
This story was originally published October 14, 2025 at 7:00 PM.
