Double Blow Confirmed for Shane Beamer as LaNorris Sellers’ Future Shaken by 8,160-Yard Reality

The South Carolina Gamecocks would still be beaming with joy after they pulled off a 9-4 season after improving year after year under Shane Beamer. Sure, the 2023 season could be dubbed a ‘disaster,’ but that was the past. Also, Beamer had probably the toughest schedule in college football. So, 4 years under Beamer have seen even the grass of Williams-Brice Stadium improve significantly, which is expected to continue. However, the off-season is in full swing right now, and with it comes some of the complications Beamer would need to tackle.

Despite a successful season, the Gamecocks supporters would still feel something was lacking in the QB room. The departure of Spencer Rattler was touted to have brutal effects on the team, and things looked gruesome in the QB department early on. However, no one had expected that Beamer had LaNorris Sellers in the pipeline and was expecting to use the QB to the full effect. The redshirt freshman QB produced 2,534 passing yards at a 65.8% completion rate. However, the major USP of the QB was his rushing ability, as he rushed for 674 yards, scoring 7 touchdowns.

Despite the performances and the season Sellers has put in, questions were looming about how the QB does not have enough ceiling. Quite recently, Sellers’ comparison with another stalwart QB, Garrett Nussmeier, has erupted that debate. David Pollack, a CFB insider on his podcast, tried to weigh in on the comparison. “Nussmeier is exponentially better as a passer. It’s like what Nussmeier can do right now, but LaNorris will never even get to it. He’ll never scratch the surface of what Nussmeier can do. Throwing the football and anticipating and throwing in different windows.”

Well, Garrett Nussmeier is coming back for his last season in college football after producing 4,052 yards for 29 touchdowns in 2024. Nussmeier isn’t a dual-threat quarterback like LaNorris, as he has a frame of 6’2″ and 200 lbs. On the other hand, Sellers’ frame at 6’3″ and 242 lbs provides a great combination in a dual-threat scenario. Also, it may seem that Nussmeier’s experience makes him the standout player when you compare him to Sellers. But Nussmeier’s incredible arm skills and playmaking awareness have propelled him from his high school career, where he produced 8,160 yards, to LSU, where he will have one last dance.

Overall, it looks like the criticism for Sellers isn’t stopping any time soon. Sellers did struggle early in the season except against LSU, where he showed some flashes of brilliance. The player did improve in the latter half of the season, with sack rates and interceptions dropping visibly. But people are still wondering if that’s the highest LaNorris can go at South Carolina. Or do the Gamecocks need another QB by tapping into the transfer portal?

Double trouble for Shane Beamer?

Ever since Shane Beamer took over the program, the recruiting level at Gamecocks seems to have climbed a mountain and is still trending upwards. For context, in 2021, when Beamer joined, the recruiting class was ranked 80th in the country and didn’t even have the necessary firepower to make a winning season. That changed just in one year after Beamer was in charge. The newly arrived head coach produced a 24th-ranked class in 2022 and a 16th-ranked class in 2023. However, one thing that the head coach would need to be aware of is the transfer portal.

Just recently, Wendell Gregory, a prospect of the 2024 class, has decided to enter the transfer portal. Hayes Fawcett, the ON3 transfer portal reporter, posted on X. “South Carolina EDGE Wendell Gregory plans to enter the Transfer Portal, per his agency @EMGSportsAgents“. The true freshman appeared in just 3 games last season playing as a linebacker. He finished the season with a single solo tackle against Akron Zips.

BREAKING: South Carolina EDGE Wendell Gregory plans to enter the Transfer Portal, per his agency @EMGSportsAgents

The 6’4 260 EDGE appeared in 3 games in 2024 for the Gamecocks

Will have 4 years of eligibility remaininghttps://t.co/GvRT0J7zee pic.twitter.com/YK7W0zQTlA

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) April 3, 2025

A 4-star and 91.98-rated prospect on ON3, Wendell Gregory was ranked 26th in his position and top 200 nationally. Standing at 6 feet 4 inches and weighing around 260 lbs, he could have been a top prospect in the upcoming season. After the player’s departure, other players like Fred Johnson, Mohamed Kaba, Bengally Kamara, and Demetrius Knight Jr. will look to fill the required hole in the LB room.

All in all, this departure may well be the second blow for Beamer recently after questions over his QB’s capabilities. Now, it remains to be seen if the head coach taps into the transfer portal for more additions or looks to transition his freshman additions like Josh Smith and AJ Holloway into the vacated role.

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