Well, it was kind of a mediocre season for South Carolina. Shane Beamer’s boys wrapped it up with a 9-4 overall record. The Gamecocks fans must be already happy with how their HC Beamer is not following the crowd who are canceling the spring games. Rather, he sticks to the tradition. Well, here comes another good news – it looks like things are highly likely to be in their favor this season regarding the CFP run. However, whether they will get an easy pass to the playoffs, or the gates will close is going to depend on the people running the show. Meanwhile, Beamer’s QB LaNorris Sellers has got a big task to fulfill.
The 2024 season came with a big heartbreak for Beamer’s squad. Even though they reeled off six straight wins, and came with a big 17-14 victory over Clemson, they got snubbed in the playoffs race. The Gamecocks were last ranked a Top 25 team by the CFP selection committee in 2022, where they stood at No.19, per ESPN. The rank has improved for the better and the Gamecocks stood at No.15 in 2024. But this season, they might find themselves in the college football playoff run. Mainly because of their returners – QB LaNorris Sellers, EDGE Dylan Stewart, and defensive back Jalon Kilgore. The rankings are also hinting towards a brighter future.
Shane Beamer
On March 14, on the PFF College Football Show, analysts Max Chadwick and Dalton Wasserman explored Beamer’s squad in depth. Chadwick confirmed, “[South Carolina] Finished number 19 in the final AP ranking. The last time they were that high was in 2013 when they finished number four in the AP ranking. So, it’s been a very, very long time since South Carolina was that good, really big breakout year.” The frontrunner in Beamer’s race to the playoffs is Stewart. The young chap is representing the Gamecocks in EA Sports CFB 26 cover photo. In the 2024 season, he caught 23 total tackles. As Chadwick praised him, “He’s probably a guy we can hear a lot about top five pick or maybe even number one overall pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. He is an electric player.”
Next comes Beamer’s QB Sellers. Even though he “has some work to do as a passer,” the 2025 season can be his “breakout year,” said Chadwick. The QB is running strong with a resume of 2,534 yards, 18 touchdowns, and a completion rate of 65.6% in 2024. Not to miss, Georgia Region 4-AA Athlete of the Year as a junior, Kilgore posted 48 total tackles and five interceptions in his sophomore season. However, Beamer and Co.’s key to CFP success lies in developing Sellers as a passer. His past season’s passing grade of 70.6 needs to be boosted. Already the ceiling for Beamer’s QB is high.
The superhuman burden for Shane Beamer’s QB
The Gamecocks fell into pieces after giving up 41 sacks in the 2023 season. And with this, they fell to the No.123 rank in the country. But Beamer must be thankful to Sellers. After all, it would have been even worse if not for Seller possessed the power to escape and turn the chaos into yardage. Now did his effort go unnoticed? Absolutely not. On That SEC Podcast, Beamer’s QB had the spotlight over him.
“I think we can all admit it’d be a lot higher number if not for LaNorris Sellers being such a dynamic athlete. Nine out of ten quarterbacks are probably not the athlete he is,” said the podcast insiders. Now while it’s definitely a thing to be celebrated and proud about, there is another side of the story as well. This means that in Beamer’s squad, his quarterback has to be a superhuman to keep the offense running.
Yes, no matter how efficiently LaNorris Sellers can extend plays, he struggles with blocking for himself. Definitely, he is special. However, carrying the burden of an entire team, that too against SEC defenses, is no joke. So if Beamer wants a playoff ticket, it’s time to solve the real problem.
The post National Analyst Clears Stance on Shane Beamer’s CFP Fate as LaNorris Sellers Forced to Mask South Carolina’s Glaring Issue appeared first on EssentiallySports.