Latest on South Florence QB LaNorris Sellers and where the Gamecocks stand with him
LaNorris Sellers has had a week to reflect on what he and the South Florence High School football team accomplished. The Bruins defeated Northwestern on Dec. 3 to win the Class 4A state championship, the school’s first in football.
The school held a ceremony for the team on Friday. The Bruins also will be in the city of Florence’s Christmas parade on Dec. 17.
Sellers was Saturday at the Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Bowl at Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium along with the other Mr. Football finalists. The award was handed out at halftime, and many thought the South Florence quarterback would walk away with the honor after he threw for 2,948 yards, rushed for 1,338 and had 66 total touchdowns.
Camden defensive lineman and South Carolina commit Xzavier McLeod won the award.
“It is just an honor to be up there with those guys, considering all the talent that has come out of the state the last couple of years,” Sellers said.
“It feels pretty good. It is on to the next level, I guess.”
There still are questions surrounding where Sellers will play on the next level. The early signing period begins Dec. 21. Sellers will graduate high school early and enroll at college in January.
He’s been committed to Syracuse since the summer. Orange head coach Dino Babers and new offensive coordinator Jason Beck were expected in Florence on Saturday night for an in-home visit.
Sellers, who is considered as a three-star prospect by 247Sports Composite, is the highest-ranked Syracuse commit for the Class of 2023.
South Carolina is making a late push to flip his pledge to the Gamecocks. The coaching staff has been in constant contact with Sellers, but no in-home visit has been scheduled as of yet with USC. Sellers will leave Sunday for Spartanburg to begin practice for next weekend’s Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas all-star game.
On Friday, the Gamecocks offered his brother Jayden, a receiver on the Bruins team who caught two touchdown passes in the championship game. Syracuse has also offered his brother.
“I have been hearing a lot from them this week, actually the last couple of weeks. We have talked consistently,” Sellers said. “Love the coaching staff. They are a really honest staff, good staff and family staff. That is the biggest thing for me.”
Both Syracuse and South Carolina have had some changes to their offensive staff. Syracuse offensive coordinator Robert Anae left to become the offensive coordinator at N.C. State. Beck, who was Syracuse’s quarterbacks coach, was elevated to coordinator status.
Gamecocks offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield left to join Matt Rhule’s staff at Nebraska. Shane Beamer has yet to hire a replacement.
“I know they will hire the right guy. Coach Beamer is a smart man and knows what is the best for the program,” Sellers said.
