South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers, one of the top draft-eligible college quarterbacks, will return to school for the 2026 college football season, per ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
Sellers reached an agreement on an NIL deal with the school for his redshirt junior year that will keep him in Columbus – and out of the NFL – for at least one more year. He was viewed as one of the top quarterbacks eligible for the 2026 draft; now, he will likely join what is considered to be a loaded 2027 class.
Sellers, 20, is a two-year starter who burst onto the scene as a redshirt freshman in 2024. He dazzled with his dual-threat capabilities and earned plenty of recognition at the end of the season, including SEC Freshman of the Year, third-team All-SEC, and Freshman All-American honors. That positioned him as one of the top prospects to watch in 2025, but he regressed statistically and raised concerns about his readiness for the pros.
Though many early draft rankings – including those from Pro Football Focus, The Athletic, and multiple ESPN analysts – ranked Sellers as a top-five quarterback prospect in the 2026 class, some scouts and league insiders believe he would benefit from another year in college. Apparently, Sellers and his team at Equity Sports agree.
With the growing payouts of NIL deals, Sellers can continue to make money as a college quarterback while improving his perception in the NFL. Right now, he could be taken late in the first round or sometime on Day 2, but improving his stock could make him a surefire first-rounder and a potential top-10 pick, which could mean a difference of tens of millions of dollars on his rookie contract.
However, there is risk in Sellers’ decision. If he does not take a step forward next year, teams may hesitate to use a top draft pick on a quarterback who has not demonstrated the ability to develop from one season to the next.
As a result, 2026 will be crucial for Sellers’ ability to stand out among the rest of the 2027 quarterback class and raise his draft slot and earning potential.
Returning to school is the correct move. Returning to a different school might have been wiser.
Sounds like he did. One in Columbus.
😁
Unless the writer knows something that we don’t, Sellers would be returning to Columbia, not Columbus.
Not mentioned, but Sellers might also just want to return to college because he loves being there. Playing football for that school, being a student, living the student life.
What a novel thing, eh? Enjoying youth, student life
Agreed WUOT. Whatever growing pains NIL might encounter in its nascent stages, if it allows even just a few college players to stay in school because they want to be there and not fear the financial repercussions of not jumping into the NFL when the opportunity first presents itself, then NIL is a success just by that measure alone.
Not to mention he had an awful year and needs more time to improve his game.
Great move. You’ll make another six figures plus and get a chance to develop and show more to scouts.
I think they mean Columbia, not Columbus. I don’t think Julian Sayin’s going anywhere.
Maybe he’s going to Columbia.
Didn’t have the best year. I would have assumed he chased $ to another school.
It would had to be a package deal for him and his brother.
Interesting.
Should have hopped in the portal and gone to Texas after arch declares
Arch might not declare
Arch won’t declare…. that’s not how the Mannings work….
That’s cute but you by rule have to declare if you’re entering draft. No special privileges.
Well Mannings or no, after a so-so season, why would he? He only gains by having a good year
I wonder how many quarterback prospects are looking at the prospect of going to the Jets or Browns, & seeing it as the career equivalent of stepping into a bear trap? I know there’s other possibilities too, but the Cardinals & Raiders aren’t very appealing either. This just isn’t a good time to be a highly rated quarterback based on their options.
Yeah, but generally by the workings of the draft, a highly-rated QB is going to go to a currently bad team. I know there’s exceptions (decent team with a high draft choice via trade, decent team coming off an injury-ravaged year, etc), but those are just that – exceptions. If you’re a highly regarded college QB, you’re pretty much gonna be drafted by a bad or rebuilding team.
Not Columbus. Columbia.