South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers will start against No. 24 Kentucky on Saturday, but the coaching staff has prepared backup Cutter Woods for potential in-game action if the passing struggles continue. Sellers has completed 62.1 percent of his passes this season for the 2-2 Gamecocks.
South Carolina enters a Saturday afternoon SEC matchup against Kentucky needing an offensive spark after dropping its first two conference games.
Sellers Leads SEC in Rushing but Struggles Passing
Sellers has completed 62.1 percent of his passes through four games, placing him near the bottom of the Southeastern Conference in completion percentage. He has recorded 833 passing yards, six touchdowns, and four interceptions. The four picks rank among the conference’s highest totals.
The ground game tells a different story. South Carolina leads the SEC in rushing, aided by Sellers averaging 6.8 yards per carry under offensive coordinator Kendal Briles. Sellers has contributed 244 rushing yards and one touchdown on the ground. However, the passing attack ranks ninth in the league, placing heavy pressure on the quarterback to make quick decisions and hit open receivers.
During the 2024 campaign, Sellers put himself on the radar as an NFL draft prospect by totaling 25 touchdowns and guiding the Gamecocks to a 9-4 record alongside contention for the College Football Playoff. His progress subsequently encountered hurdles due to roster and staff turnover, with Sellers playing under three different offensive coordinators across three years while the team simultaneously struggled with roster depth and protection issues on the offensive line.
Cutter Woods Brings Strong High School Record to Gamecocks
The coaching staff views Woods as a potential starter for the future.
He was the No. 38 quarterback in the 2025 recruiting class by the Rivals Industry Ranking. He finished his high school career with 11,225 passing yards and 120 touchdowns, and was a Mr. Football finalist as a quarterback coming out of high school after leading the Rams to a pair of state championship appearances. He was the Gamecocks’ No. 3 quarterback a year ago as a freshman and has played in six career games, all in relief, completing 17 of 25 passes for 161 yards with one touchdown and one interception. This season, he has gone 9 of 14 for 92 yards with his touchdown pass coming against Kent State.
Shane Beamer and Kendal Briles on Ongoing Quarterback Competition
Head coach Shane Beamer declined to specify which players took first-team reps during his Tuesday press conference, emphasizing overall team accountability as the program seeks a victory to quell talk about job security and show a semblance of hope after not winning a conference game in over a calendar year.
Every position is accountable. Every week in practice there is competition that’s ongoing at our place, no matter the position.
Offensive coordinator Kendal Briles addressed the prospect of playing his backup during media availability, noting that the staff will make decisions based on what gives the team the best chance to win.
Yeah, there's always a chance. If we feel like that was what gave us the best chance to win the game, then that's what we're going to do.
Briles also pointed to mental execution as the primary hurdle for the starting quarterback.
South Carolina kicks off against No. 24 Kentucky at 4:15 p.m. looking to secure its first conference victory of the season.
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