Heisman Hopeful Sellers Leads Gamecocks’ Charge: Spring Practice Signals Big Ambitions

Columbia, SC – March 24, 2025

The South Carolina Gamecocks launched spring practice with a palpable sense of purpose, blending fresh talent with seasoned ambition as they aim to elevate a program that fell just shy of the College Football Playoff in 2024. Led by quarterback LaNorris Sellers—a potential Heisman Trophy contender—alongside breakout hopefuls like wide receiver Nyck Harbor and running back Oscar Adaway III, this year’s squad is poised to make waves. Head Coach Shane Beamer, Offensive Coordinator Mike Shula, and Defensive Coordinator Clayton White shared their insights with the media, while Harbor and Adaway offered a glimpse into the player-driven hunger fueling the team’s 92-player spring roster.

Sellers: The Heisman Hype Begins

LaNorris Sellers (No. 16, QB, 6-3, 240 lbs., Redshirt Sophomore) isn’t just the centerpiece of the Gamecocks’ offense—he’s emerging as a national name. After a 2024 season that showcased his dual-threat brilliance, including a standout run against Clemson, Sellers enters spring with Heisman buzz swirling. Offensive Coordinator Mike Shula is focused on refining his game. “Our goal is to pick up where we left off at the end of the year,” Shula said, emphasizing quicker processing and decision-making. “He’s a pretty good runner, but we want him upright, throwing the football—running on our terms.”

Sellers’ leadership is also taking shape. Running back Oscar Adaway III (No. 27, RB, 5-11, 219 lbs., Graduate Student) singled him out as a player stepping into the vocal void left by 2024’s Demetrius Knight. “LaNorris is trying to embody that for sure,” Adaway said. “He’s getting up there.” With a young quarterback room—Sellers in his third year, Dante Reno (No. 10, QB, 6-2, 214 lbs., Redshirt Freshman) and Air Noland (No. 11, QB, 6-3, 225 lbs., Redshirt Freshman) in their second, and freshman Cutter Woods (No. 15, QB, 6-3, 204 lbs.) joining the mix—spring is a proving ground for the potential Heisman hopeful.

Harbor’s All-In Bet on Football

Wide receiver Nyck Harbor (No. 8, WR, 6-5, 235 lbs., Junior) is making waves by committing fully to football, opting out of track this year after a decorated high school career at Archbishop Carroll that included 10.4-second 100-meter dashes. “Track don’t work like that,” Harbor said, explaining his decision. “You can’t just do a whole spring ball and then try to go run without no running before that. My track for this year is done.”

The move is already paying dividends. “It’s going to do wonders,” Harbor said of the full preseason focus. “I don’t have to come back in July or August and try to ramp everything back up. I’m smooth sailing, really going off last year.” After improving his route-running and confidence in 2024—capped by a near-drop-free final two months thanks to new contacts—Harbor, now at 230 lbs., is eyeing a breakout. “We’re going to be dogs,” he said of the receiving corps, which includes returners like Mazeo Bennett Jr. (No. 3, WR, 5-10, 185 lbs., Sophomore) and newcomers like Lex Cyrus (No. 0, WR, 5-10, 185 lbs., Freshman). “We know what we got in our room. We’ll let the stats speak for themselves.”

Harbor also sees a chance to claim the kick returner role vacated by JuJu McDowell. “If Coach J put me back there, I’m going to go back,” he said with a grin. His blend of size, speed, and newfound focus has teammates like Adaway buzzing. “You see that body, that speed,” Adaway said. “If he puts all those pieces in that puzzle together, it’s going to be a beautiful masterpiece.”

Adaway’s Veteran Drive

Oscar Adaway III brings a veteran presence to a crowded backfield after transferring from North Texas. “We’re all trying to compete, trying to win for this team,” he said of a room featuring transfer Rahsul Faison (No. 1, RB, 6-0, 218 lbs., Graduate Student, Utah State)—nicknamed “Su”—and young talents like Jawarn Howell (No. 22, RB, 6-1, 225 lbs., Redshirt Sophomore) and Matthew Fuller (No. 28, RB, 5-11, 220 lbs., Redshirt Freshman). Now 100% after an ankle injury in the Citrus Bowl, Adaway’s experience—spanning injuries, winning teams, and struggles—shapes his approach. “I chose this year to lead by experience,” he said. “I’ve done it all.”

Reflecting on advice from past seniors like DeAndre Torry and Demetrius Knight, Adaway avoids dwelling on this being his final spring. “They told me you can’t go into it like, ‘This is it.’ You should’ve already had that mindset,” he said. His goal? Push the run game past last year’s 36th national ranking. “We’re trying to be below 36 next year. Nine wins last year—we’re trying to get better than that.”

Beamer’s Blueprint: Competition and Elevation

Head Coach Shane Beamer set the tone: no depth charts, no preconceived notions. “Show us you love to compete, love football, and can help us win games, and we’ll find a role for you,” he told the team. With injuries sidelining tight end Michael Smith (No. 4, TE, 6-6, 248 lbs., Sophomore), defensive lineman Caleb Williams (No. 88, DL, 6-5, 290 lbs., Freshman), and offensive linemen Ryan Brubaker (No. 73, OL, 6-5, 313 lbs., Redshirt Junior) and  Damola Ajidahun, No. 79, OL, 6-6, 325 lbs., Freshman), opportunities abound for new faces like freshman edge rusher Jaquavious Dodd (No. 22, EDGE, 6-6, 245 lbs.). The special teams overhaul—new kicker, punter, long snapper, and holder—adds intrigue, with candidates like Mason Love (No. 24, PK/P, 6-1, 191 lbs., Redshirt Freshman) in the mix. The spring game, set for a Friday night, remains a cornerstone despite tampering concerns elsewhere.

“We’re excited about what we did last season, but nobody’s satisfied,” Beamer said. “This is a hungry group that wants to take things farther.” Harbor echoed that: “Last year’s behind us now. It’s a new team. We’re trying to make fewer mistakes than we did last year.”

Shula and White: Crafting the Future

Shula’s offense is building around Sellers, integrating freshmen receivers like Malik Clark (No. 13, WR, 6-2, 190 lbs.) and a revamped line featuring transfers like Boaz Stanley (No. 50, OL, 6-3, 325 lbs., Redshirt Junior) at center. “There’s a lot of competition,” he said, praising veterans like Tree Babalade (No. 51, OL, 6-5, 330 lbs., Redshirt Sophomore), who could shift to guard. On defense, Clayton White faces a massive rebuild—seven starters gone, including Nick Emmanwori and Kyle Kennard—but sees promise in new tackles like Zavion Hardy (No. 94, DL, 6-5, 290 lbs., Junior) and second-year stars like Dylan Stewart (No. 6, EDGE, 6-5, 245 lbs., Sophomore). “Guys are eager to learn our defense,” White said. “It’s a team thing.”

A Season of Possibility

With Sellers’ Heisman potential, Harbor’s all-in commitment, and Adaway’s veteran grit, the Gamecocks’ spring practice signals a team on the cusp. As Beamer put it, “We’ve got a good thing going, and we’re just getting started.” For fans, the journey to Virginia Tech begins here—and the stats, as Harbor promised, will speak for themselves.