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LaNorris Sellers' long-time QB trainer Ramon Robinson previews what to expect

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LaNorris Sellers' long-time QB trainer Ramon Robinson previews what to expect


LaNorris Sellers will debut as South Carolina’s starting quarterback in six days.

The former Florence (S.C.) South Florence star has shown Gamecock fans glimpses of what he’s capable of in spot action last season and in the spring game but few have spent more time with Sellers on a football field than Ramon Robinson, his long-time QB trainer.

Robinson, who runs RR QB Elite Academy, joined 107.5 The Game this past week on the GamecockCentral Takeover to give fans an idea of what to expect from the redshirt freshman.

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107.5: Shane Beamer said LaNorris’ response to being named the starting quarterback was simply “okay,” and then he went about his business. That probably doesn’t come as a surprise to you; he seems like a pretty low-key guy, right?

Ramon Robinson: Yeah, he seems to be low-key. He’s all about business, and he’s been about business ever since, like I said, we started the process of developing him into a high-profile quarterback that was wanted by quite a few colleges. He’s been handling his business and staying the course ever since then.

107.5: I know you’ve worked with probably countless quarterbacks over the years, but just from being around LaNorris and seeing him on a day-to-day basis, seeing him on that grind as he has developed, what can you tell the Gamecock fans about what they can expect from him from just a play style and ability standpoint? They obviously haven’t seen him as much as you have over the years.

Ramon Robinson: What I’ve seen—like I said, I’ve been with him for quite some time now—and the things I’ve seen from him are growth and development, and that’s what you want to see at the quarterback position. I speak on that a lot; if you’re not growing and developing at the position, then you’re wasting your time. The thing I saw with him is he’s grown not just physically but mentally as well, in how he attacks the game, how he prepares and preps for the game. That’s all I’ve seen over the years—continuous growth.

Just from being with Coach (Drew) Marlowe pouring him to him as his head coach, and us working together in regard to the things that I worked on with LaNorris that would pair up well within their offense, those are the things I’ve seen him continue to build on as he’s taken the next step with the Gamecocks.

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All I’ve seen is continuous development, and people want to know what they’re going to get from him—who knows? The only person who knows is the man upstairs and LaNorris Sellers. If LaNorris just goes out there and plays his game, which is what I expect. Anybody who knows him and is in his circle knows that as long as LaNorris is doing him and nobody’s handicapping his game, LaNorris is going to deliver a full-package game.

He’s a guy that can throw first, he can throw second, and also, when I say throw, he can run third—that’s the third option. He’s that guy that can put his foot in the ground and make a play if need be. But at the same time, he’s a guy that everybody looks up to, follows his path. They’ve been on the grind with him the whole summer—just receivers picking up and saying, “Hey, we’re going to Greenville, South Carolina, to train this weekend with the guys,” or “We’re going to Florence, or over to the local high school to train with Coach Ramon.”

Those guys have been following him, being on the same page, creating that vibe and relationship that a quarterback and wide receiver and players want. What people are going to see is, as long as No. 16 is being No. 16, everybody in the Gamecock Nation is going to be a very happy family.

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107.5: Hey, Ramon, I was able to watch the Carolina spring game from the sideline, so I had a great view of the game speed and how quickly LaNorris processes things. I was amazed—taken aback by his ability to make that initial decision, whether he has to extend a play a little bit or if it’s not perfect pass protection, but he’s going to step up in this pocket, not necessarily look to run first. I think that’s something you were kind of alluding to there. What have you seen from him over the years, man? That ability to have that clock in his head, make quick decisions, and keep his eyes downfield while he’s maneuvering in the pocket to try to make a throw, but then obviously, like you said, if he has to, he’ll stick his foot in the ground and go. But I loved his ability to keep his eyes downfield as he’s extending plays.

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Ramon Robinson: Right, and that’s the thing. The things that I do in my training, whether it’s footwork drills, ladders, or cones, I emphasize that all the way back to quarterbacks I’ve had way before LaNorris in college. Always keep your eyes downfield.

I’m not worried about if you hit a cone or the ladder; your goal is to keep your eyes downfield. I look at you hitting a cone or ladder like the defense tugging at your shirt or leg, but that’s not your job—not your job to stop in your tracks just because somebody’s pulling at you. Your job is to continue to keep your eyes downfield to see what the defense is doing as you’re escaping out of the pocket or making a pocket movement.

Those are things I stress to any quarterback from first grade all the way up to the pros: always try to maintain and keep your eyes downfield. You’re going to see that not just with LaNorris but with any young quarterback if they stay the course and trust the process when it comes to developing and being comfortable in that pocket, knowing when to elude and when to make the right move to continue to stay in the pocket or when to go.

I always stress that when we first came in, saying, “Hey, look, our first job is to take command of the offense, sit in that pocket, and go through our reads.” To go through our reads, we have to know what we’re doing within our offense. We’ve got to know what read one is, read two is, and if it’s the third option, that’s either going to be a throw away, you tuck the ball and run, or check down to the running back.

That’s the growth I saw with him early on in his freshman and sophomore year when he was at Florence. I saw him start to transition out of it because he started to trust himself within the offense and knew where everybody was at, like right before he got hurt his junior year. Everybody’s thinking that this was one of those senior things—his senior year, he’s just jumping off the charts. No, this was a process, and we’re talking about development—that’s what you want.

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He got better from a freshman to a sophomore to a junior to a senior in Marlowe’s offense. Marlowe’s been a great key factor in his development as well because we’ve always worked together. That’s what you want. If you want the best out of your quarterback, everybody’s got to be on the same page for the success of the kid. It’s not about you; it’s about the kid at hand right now. That’s what I’ve seen with him—his pocket presence has grown as he got more comfortable within the offense.

Just like at the University of South Carolina now, as he’s getting more comfortable, he knows the offense now, he knows where everybody’s at. That gives him the opportunity to sit in that pocket and lead the offense down the field.

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107.5: Ramon Robinson, who was LaNorris Sellers’ quarterback trainer when he was in high school at South Florence, is with us. We have high expectations for him, obviously. Anytime you’re a new starting quarterback, especially in the SEC, you’re going to make mistakes—there are going to be interceptions, broken plays. Those kinds of things are just part of playing quarterback, especially at this level. How does LaNorris Sellers respond to adversity? How can he compartmentalize and not let things affect him as the season rolls along?

Ramon Robinson: I think he just has to handle his job and not get caught up in the hype. There’s a lot of hype right now, and he’s done a very good job of not paying attention to what’s going on on social media. He’s just been handling his business.

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We all know if you get caught up in what people are saying, you’re going to derail what you’re trying to do. That’s always going to derail what you’re trying to do because if you’re sitting here looking at, listening to the opinions of others, and getting caught up in it, whether it’s the good moments or the bad moments—there’s a 24-hour rule, some people say. Twenty-four hours in that time frame, the success of what happened in the last game—that’s over.

But I just think if he continues to do what he does and continues to be the guy he’s become as a young man, and everything that’s been instilled in him by his family, if he continues to be him, there will be great things. I don’t think there will be a lot of distractions, regardless of if he’s playing in the SEC or wherever. It’s just a matter of him continuing to be him. I always say that as long as LaNorris continues to be LaNorris Sellers, there are great things ahead.



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Rev. Jesse Jackson returns home to South Carolina to lie in state

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Rev. Jesse Jackson returns home to South Carolina to lie in state


COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — After a long career of fighting for civil rights, the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. is visiting his home for one last time to lie in state at the South Carolina capitol on Monday.

The final full honors from the state where he was born is a far cry from his childhood in segregated Greenville, where in 1960 he couldn’t go inside the local library’s much better funded whites-only branch to check out a book he needed.

Jackson led seven Black high school students into that segregated branch, where they sat down and read books and magazines until they were arrested. The branches closed, then quietly reopened for all.

With that action, Jackson launched his career — and crusade — fighting for equality for all. He would catch the attention of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and join the voting rights march King led from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama.

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Jackson died Feb. 17 at age 84 after battling a rare neurological disorder that affected his mobility and ability to speak in his later years.

The South Carolina services are part of two weeks of events. It began with Jackson’s body lying in repose and the public invited last week to his Rainbow PUSH Coalition’s Chicago headquarters.

After South Carolina, Jackson will be returned to Chicago for a large celebration of life gathering at a megachurch and the final homegoing services at the headquarters of Rainbow PUSH. Plans for a service in Washington, D.C., to honor him have been postponed until a later date.

Nationally, Jackson advocated for the poor and underrepresented for voting rights, job opportunities, education and health care. He scored diplomatic victories with world leaders.

Trough his Rainbow PUSH Coalition, he channeled cries for Black pride and self-determination into corporate boardrooms, pressuring executives to make America a more open and equitable society. He stepped forward as the Civil Rights Movement’s torchbearer after King’s assassination, and would run for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988.

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Jackson continued to be active in his home state, pushing in 2003 for Greenville County to honor King by matching the federal holiday in his honor and in 2015 by advocating for removing the Confederate flag from South Carolina Statehouse grounds after nine Black worshipers were killed in a racist shooting at a Charleston church.

Jackson is just the second Black man to lie in state at the South Carolina capitol. State Sen. Clementa Pinckney was honored in 2015 after he was shot and killed in the Charleston church shooting.

___

Associated Press writer Sophia Tareen in Chicago contributed to this report.

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A Desperate South Carolina Program Returns to Oklahoma in 2026

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A Desperate South Carolina Program Returns to Oklahoma in 2026


Sooners On SI will break down Oklahoma’s 2026 schedule, opponent by opponent, for a series dubbed “Know Your Foe.” You can look forward to an opponent breakdown each day. Catch up by checking out the preview for the Mississippi State Bulldogs.

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Former Oklahoma assistant coach Shane Beamer finds himself on shaky ground heading into 2026. This is a make-or-break year for Beamer, whose South Carolina squad retained a great deal of talent while also adding some exciting names.

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For Beamer, it could very well come down to how his team performs in his second game in Norman as an opposing head coach.

How the Sooners enter their third consecutive matchup with the Gamecocks could very well tell us how the rest of the 2026 season is going to go. South Carolina is banking on experience to extend Beamer’s future.

How will the Sooners fare against the Gamecocks? But first, some history.

Past Battles

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Oklahoma coach Brent Venables talks with South Carolina coach Shane Beamer after a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners and the South Carolina Gamecocks. | BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

South Carolina has been sort of a spotlight game for Oklahoma in their initial two seasons in the SEC.

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In 2024, following their second loss of the season, the Sooners returned to Norman with their sights set on rebounding with a win to set up a strong finish. Those hopes were dashed immediately when the Gamecocks scored 21 points in the blink of an eye, leading to a comfortable victory. OU’s season would not rebound.

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2025 saw the Sooners in a similar spot. After losing their first game of the season to Texas, OU traveled to Columbia for the first time ever hoping to rebound. They didjust that—setting them up to have an opportunity for a strong finish.



Returning Starters

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South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers scrambles against Oklahoma. | Carson Field, Sooners On SI

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The dynamic LaNorris Sellers returned to Columbia despite rumors speculating that he may try and find greener pastures elsewhere. This was more than good news for Beamer. Sellers’ big play ability keeps defensive coordinators up at night.

Wide receiver Nyck Harbor followed suit by returning to South Carolina as well. Harbor gives Sellers and the USC offense a gamebreaking factor that pairs well with Sellers’ capabilities. Last year, Harbor scored six touchdowns and had three games of 100 or more yards receiving.

Edge rusher Dylan Stewart—who OU was able to avoid last year following a hip injury sustained early in the first quarter—also announced he would return for a final season of college ball. At 6-6, 250 pounds, Stewart projects as one of the more talented defensive players in the country.

New Faces

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Oklahoma receiver Jayden Gibson looks on during a drill at practice. | Ryan Chapman / Sooners on SI

With 25 new players via the transfer portal, Beamer left no stone unturned to try and right the wrongs of 2025.

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After sitting out the last two seasons due to injuries and some legal trouble, Jayden Gibson landed in Columbia to attempt to revive his career. When he was healthy in 2023, Gibson proved to be a valuable pass catcher with his size and hands.

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Big 6-5 tight end Max Drag chose to play for the Gamecocks following a career jumping from Appalachin State to UCF. Drag was primarily used as a blocker, which bodes well for USC’s QB-run oriented attack.

Linebacker Kelby Collins came in from Alabama. In a rotational role, Collins earned two sacks and three tackles for loss last year. Oklahoma saw Collins twice in 2025.

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Key Departures

South Carolina State Bulldogs quarterback William Atkins IV escapes the pressure of South Carolina Gamecocks linebacker Bryan Thomas Jr. in the second quarter. | Jeff Blake-Imagn Images

Edge rusher Byrant Thomas Jr. entered the draft, taking away USC’s one-two punch at defensive end. Thomas’ blend of size and speed made him a force on the defensive line for South Carolina.

Big play pass catcher Vandrevious Jacobs took his 17 yards per catch talents to South Beach to play for the Miami Hurricanes.

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Tight end Michael Smith was on his way to a promising start of his Gamecock career following a solid true freshman outing in 2024, but was limited last season due to injuries.

Schedule Placement

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Oklahoma coach Brent Venables | Carson Field, Sooners On SI

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For OU, the back half of their schedule begins after hosting USC. With two tough home games bookended by two tough road games, Oklahoma’s matchup with the Gamecocks could prove pivotal for how the rest of the season goes.

If the Sooners navigated their initial brutal three games of Michigan, Georgia and Texas well, then by the time they’ve made it to late October, the Gamecocks should only serve to provide Oklahoma as a final open-book test sort of matchup.

But if OU goes 1-2 or worse in those initial three games, then the Sooners may be fighting for their season’s very life hosting the Gamecocks.

USC finds OU on the crucible section of their schedule. The Gamecocks travel to Knoxville the week before Norman, only to then play Texas A&M, Arkansas, Georgia and Clemson.

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Tessa Johnson injury update for Dawn Staley, South Carolina vs Kentucky

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Tessa Johnson injury update for Dawn Staley, South Carolina vs Kentucky


South Carolina women’s basketball starting guard Tessa Johnson was not listed on the injury report Feb. 28 for the Gamecocks’ final regular-season game at Kentucky.

Johnson was practicing on Feb. 27 after missing the 112-71 win over Missouri, but coach Dawn Staley wouldn’t confirm her status for the next game.

No. 3 South Carolina (28-2, 14-1) travels to play No. 18 Kentucky (21-8, 8-7 SEC) on March 1 (2 p.m. ET, SEC Network) to close the regular season.

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South Carolina called it an “upper body contusion” on social media not long after she was listed as out on the SEC injury report that published an hour before tipoff vs Missouri.

Staley joked that media would post on social media that Johnson was practicing with the starters, setting the tone that she isn’t hiding the latest on Johnson’s health.

Johnson is a junior guard averaging 13.1 points and 3.5 rebounds. She leads the SEC in 3-point shooting at 45.5%, which is also eighth in the nation.

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Johnson struggled in her two most recent games. She went combined 2-of-13 for six points against Alabama and Ole Miss, just after going 8-of-13 for 21 points against LSU.

Staley said sophomore reserve post/center Adhel Tac is day to day dealing with a lower leg injury. Tac hasn’t played since Feb. 5. She’s still using a medical scooter to move around and has been sitting out practices. She was listed as out again vs Kentucky.

Tessa Johnson injury update, status for Kentucky

The Wildcats have talented guards who can score and defend, in addition to post players like 6-foot-5 center Clara Strack, who averages 16.4 points and 10.2 rebounds. Tonie Morgan scores 14.4 points and dishes a nation-high 8.3 assists a game.

Johnson is third in the nation in 3-point shooting at 45.5%. By posing a threat behind the arc, players like Joyce Edwards and Madina Okot get more action in the paint.

Raven Johnson hit a career-high four 3-pointers against Missouri and Maddy McDaniel drained two, but there’s no denying how much Johnson elevates the offense.

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Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at LKesin@usatodayco.com. Follow her on X@Lulukesin and Bluesky‪@bylulukesin.bsky.social‬



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