Alabama Faces LaNorris Sellers for Third Time

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- For the third consecutive season, Alabama will face South Carolina and quarterback LaNorris Sellers, who has brought the Gamecocks within a score of beating the Crimson Tide each of the last two seasons.

Get our free mobile app

In this age of college football, it's rare to see a quarterback three times in a row, but Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer has seen Sellers grow as a signal caller each of the last three seasons, presenting a unique challenge for his team this Saturday in Bryant-Denny Stadium.

"He's someone we knew was a threat a few years back, so his improvement, him having a team around him of guys that he's worked with now - think about guys like [Nyck] Harbor and guys like that he's throwing the ball to for a couple years now. He's a huge threat with his physicality and his ability to run the ball," DeBoer said on the SEC Coaches Call on Wednesday morning.

"I think he's improved as a passer and has a really good knack to throw the ball downfield. He's completed balls on us for the last two years. You see that continue to happen here early in the season."

Sellers has made his fair share of big plays against the Crimson Tide, completing a 31-yard touchdown to Nyck Harbor in the 2024 matchup to cut the Gamecocks' deficit to 27-25, which was the eventual final score. In 2025, he shook off a defender and called his own number on a 10-yard score that gave the Gamecocks a 22-15 lead in the fourth quarter before Alabama stormed back with two touchdowns to win 29-22. With the Gamecocks coming close to huge upsets each of the last two years, Shane Beamer's squad will be hungrier than ever the third time around when coming to Tuscaloosa this weekend.

"You can just see his game; it continues to be more and more well-rounded," DeBoer said. "An athlete like him - a guy that can pass the ball like him - he's certainly where it starts for them. It's also where it starts for us as far as defending him and his abilities."

After last weekend's rough performance against Florida State, where the Crimson Tide's defense allowed 471 total yards and eight third-down conversions, a fast start and stout defense are imperative for Alabama this weekend against South Carolina.

No. 8 Alabama will host South Carolina on Saturday, September 26, in Bryant-Denny Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on ESPN.

Wyatt Fulton is the Tide 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.