Shane Beamer, Gamecocks look to land QB for Class of 2023

South Carolina had one hole on its signing day list of roster additions — quarterback. That might not be the case by lunchtime Friday.

The Gamecocks are waiting to hear a final decision from South Florence High School quarterback LaNorris Sellers. The Mr. Football finalist will announce his college decision at 11:30 a.m. Friday at a ceremony at his high school.

Sellers is a Syracuse commitment, but the Gamecocks have made a strong recruiting push for him over the last two months. Georgia Tech and Liberty also have been trying to land the three-star quarterback, who accounted for almost 70 touchdowns this year and led South Florence to its first state football championship.

South Carolina didn’t have a quarterback in the class for the early signing period. Coach Shane Beamer addressed that Wednesday.

“We wanted to sign a quarterback in this class. There is not a quarterback on this sheet,” Beamer said. “That is a position we are still pursuing,”

South Carolina has one quarterback committed for the future in Dante Reno, but that is for the Class of 2024. Reno and USC have discussed him reclassifying to the 2023 class, but that could hinge on what decision Norris reveals Friday.

The Gamecocks have several quarterbacks on the roster for the bowl game, but there will be some question marks for the position in the offseason. The biggest one whether Spencer Rattler will be back for another season or if he’ll pursue an NFL career.

Other scholarship quarterbacks on the roster are Luke Doty, Colten Gauthier, Tanner Bailey and Braden Davis.

Only Doty has started a game at quarterback. He has indicated that he plans to return to South Carolina for the 2023 season.

USC class by position

OFFENSE (11)

• Running Back (1): Djay Braswell
• Wide Receiver (3): CJ Adams, Kelton Henderson, Tyshwn Russell
• Tight End (3): Connor Cox, Reid Mikeska, Kamron Sandlin
• Offensive Line (4): Markee Anderson, Tosin Babalade, Trovon Baugh, Jatavius Shivers

DEFENSE (10)

• Defensive Line (2): Elijah Davis, Xzavier McLeod
• Edge (2): Monteque Rhames II, Desmond Umeolzulu
• Linebacker (1): Grayson Howard
• Defensive Back (5): Judge Collier, Jalon Kilgore, Zahbari Sandy, Vicari Swain, Cam Upshaw

Lou Bezjak is the High School Sports Prep Coordinator for The (Columbia) State and (Hilton Head) Island Packet. He previously worked at the Florence Morning News and had covered high school sports in South Carolina since 2002. Lou is a two-time South Carolina Sports Writer of the Year by the National Sports Media Association.
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