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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.

[Win two tickets to the South Carolina-Old Dominion football game]

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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House ethics committee investigating SC Republican for alleged overbilling

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House ethics committee investigating SC Republican for alleged overbilling


The House ethics committee announced Monday it is investigating Representative Nancy Mace, the South Carolina Republican, for potentially improper reimbursement.

Mace may have sought and received reimbursements for Washington property expenses that were greater than the costs she actually incurred. The congresswoman has taken issue with the reliability of the committee’s evidence, however.

The committee began its investigation following a December referral from the House Office of Congressional Conduct (OCC), an independent body that reviews allegations of misconduct. The OCC recommended that the committee investigate Mace’s reimbursement activity since there is “substantial” reason to believe she acted unethically – potentially in violation of House rules, standards of conduct and federal law.

Bills and statements from early 2023 to mid-2024 show that Mace overbilled the House for over $9,000 during that period, the OCC said. She allegedly requested the maximum reimbursement each month, at times receiving over a thousand dollars more than what she was entitled to, although the details of her finances are murky. Mace owned the property with her fiancé, who may have helped pay for it, according to the OCC.

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“Based on the information available to the OCC, it appears Rep. Mace was reimbursed amounts exceeding the actual costs incurred for the DC Property during several months in 2023 and 2024,” the office said in its report.

“Further, if Rep. Mace did not pay for 100% of expenses related to the DC property – a determination the OCC could neither reach nor reject due to the Congresswoman’s lack of cooperation – this would increase the disparity between the amounts Rep. Mace was reimbursed and her actual expenses incurred.”

Mace’s lawyer, William Sullivan, Jr., wrote in response to the report in December that the OCC’s conclusions were “fundamentally flawed.” The report appeared to include unverified assertions and materials from the congresswoman’s former fiancé, who has a history of abusive and retaliatory behavior toward her, Sullivan said. The couple’s relationship ended in late 2023 to protect Mace’s “safety and wellbeing,” he noted.

“The Referral Report’s reliance on material and information originating from [the former fiancé] is therefore deeply problematic,” Sullivan wrote. “[The fiancé’s] personal motives, documented misuse of legal process, and demonstrated willingness to advance distorted or incomplete narratives about the Congresswoman raise substantial concerns about the accuracy and fairness of any claims premised upon or aligned with his accounts.”

The ethics committee is in the initial stage of its investigation and is gathering more information before advancing.

Have questions, concerns or tips? Send them to Ray at rjlewis@sbgtv.com.

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How to watch Tennessee Volunteers: Live stream info, TV channel, game time | March 3

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How to watch Tennessee Volunteers: Live stream info, TV channel, game time | March 3


The college basketball slate on Tuesday will include Mike Sharavjamts and the South Carolina Gamecocks (12-17, 3-13 SEC) hosting Nate Ament and the No. 25 Tennessee Volunteers (20-9, 10-6 SEC) at Colonial Life Arena, with the matchup tipping at 6 p.m. ET.

See more details below, including how to watch this game on SEC Network.

Here’s everything you need to prepare for Tuesday’s college hoops action.

South Carolina vs. Tennessee: How to watch on TV or live stream

  • Game day: Tuesday, March 3, 2026
  • Game time: 6 p.m. ET
  • Location: Columbia, South Carolina
  • Arena: Colonial Life Arena
  • TV Channel: SEC Network
  • Live stream: Fubo – Watch NOW (Regional restrictions may apply)

Check out: USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll

Watch college basketball on Fubo!

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Tennessee vs. South Carolina stats and trends

  • Tennessee is averaging 80.1 points per game (87th-ranked in college basketball) this year, while ceding 69.2 points per contest (62nd-ranked).
  • The Volunteers are dominating when it comes to rebounding, as they rank third-best in college basketball in boards (40.1 per game) and second-best in boards allowed (25.8 per contest).
  • Tennessee ranks 32nd in the country with 17.0 assists per game.
  • The Volunteers are committing 11.6 turnovers per game (240th-ranked in college basketball). They are forcing 10.6 turnovers per contest (231st-ranked).
  • Tennessee is making 6.8 threes per game (279th-ranked in college basketball). It has a 34.3% shooting percentage (167th-ranked) from three-point land.
  • With 7.9 threes conceded per game, the Volunteers rank 196th in the country. They are giving up a 30.5% shooting percentage from three-point land, which ranks 29th in college basketball.
  • Tennessee is attempting 41.3 two-pointers per game this year, which account for 67.7% of the shots it has taken (and 76.2% of the team’s baskets). Meanwhile, it is attempting 19.7 three-pointers per contest, which are 32.3% of its shots (and 23.8% of the team’s buckets).

Tennessee vs. South Carolina Odds and Spread

  • Spread Favorite: Volunteers (-8.5)
  • Moneyline: Tennessee (-437), South Carolina (+328)
  • Total: 143.5 points

NCAA Basketball odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Odds updated Tuesday at 1:12 a.m. ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub.

Watch college basketball on Fubo!

Follow the latest college sports coverage at College Sports Wire.



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Bombing of Iran could mean South Carolinians paying more for gas

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Bombing of Iran could mean South Carolinians paying more for gas


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  • U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran have caused a sharp rise in global energy prices.
  • Analysts predict gas prices will rise in the U.S., including in South Carolina.
  • The conflict has disrupted oil flow through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global transit route.
  • South Carolina’s average gas price remains lower than the national average, which is approaching $3 per gallon.

An escalating conflict involving U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran in March 2026 has initiated a sharp rise in global energy prices.

Analysts predict a significant uptick in U.S. gasoline prices, including in South Carolina, which often has some of the lowest gas prices in the country.

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As of March 2026, AAA reports the national average for regular gasoline is $2.997 per gallon.

Based on projections released earlier this year in the Short-Term Energy Outlook, 2026 was initially forecast to have lower gas prices than 2025. With an expected 6% decrease, translating into approximately a 20-cent-per-gallon drop.

However, due to the conflict, these projections are now uncertain, and prices may not follow the anticipated trend.

“The national average price of gasoline has climbed for a fourth straight week, driven primarily by seasonal tightening and broader market dynamics,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy.

In the week ahead, De Han stated, gasoline prices are likely to face heightened upward pressure as seasonal trends continue and markets navigate this evolving geopolitical landscape, with the national average poised to reach the $3-per-gallon mark for the first time this year.

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“Looking ahead, markets will now begin reacting to this weekend’s U.S.-Iran attacks, which have elevated geopolitical risk premiums even in the absence of immediate supply disruption,” said De Haan. “Oil prices have firmed as traders assess the potential for further escalation, and while fundamentals such as inventories and refinery activity remain important anchors, the risk of broader instability, particularly involving key transit routes, has injected fresh uncertainty into energy markets.”

Here’s what South Carolinians need to know.

How much is gas in South Carolina?

South Carolina’s average gasoline price remains significantly lower than the national average.

In South Carolina, the average price for regular gasoline currently stands at $2.666 per gallon, according to AAA. Mid-grade gasoline is priced at $3.099, premium gasoline is $3.494, and diesel is priced at $3.505.

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Gas price hikes anticipated as bombing continue in Iran

South Carolina drivers should consider filling up their gas tanks soon to avoid potential price spikes.

Analysts expect crude oil, which ended trading on Friday, Feb. 27, at about $67 a barrel, to open this week at $90 or higher as traders process the news that Iranian forces have restricted traffic through the crucial Strait of Hormuz.

Why are gas prices rising?

Iran is a major oil producer, and the ongoing conflict has disrupted the flow of oil and gas through the Strait of Hormuz, where 20% of the world’s oil passes, according to reports from USA TODAY.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has warned vessels to avoid the area, and major shipping companies like Maersk have suspended all crossings. Saudi Arabia, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates send most of their oil exports through there. 

This disruption has and could continue to reduce supply, driving prices up as demand remains steady.

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“Too many global economies depend on that corridor to remain blocked,” De Haan said. “Markets price high transaction costs and additional uncertainty, he says, but he is not expecting full closure.”

If access through the strait is limited for an extended period, prices could rise “materially above $100/barrel,” said analysts at TD Securities in a March 1 note.

On the other hand, if access through the strait is guaranteed and hostilities cease, the added costs to account for the extra risk could evaporate in a matter of weeks, the TD team wrote.

“If it becomes clear this week that the tensions with Iran are short-lived, then oil prices will come back to the 60s,” said Rob Thummel, portfolio manager at $9 billion investment manager Tortoise Capital, in emailed remarks to USA TODAY.

Has South Carolina hit highest record average gas prices?

Despite the current spike in gas prices due to the conflict, South Carolina has not yet surpassed its highest recorded average prices, according to AAA.

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The record for regular unleaded gasoline in the state was $4.609 per gallon on June 12, 2022.

Diesel hit a peak of $5.638 per gallon on June 10, 2022.

March gas price outlook: What drivers need to know about gas prices

As reported by USA TODAY on Feb. 28, the national average for U.S. gas prices is likely to push above $3 a gallon on March 2 for the first time this year.

Over the next couple of weeks, prices will likely hit at least $3.10 to $3.15 a gallon.

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There’s also a normal seasonal increase in gas prices around this time of year, driven by seasonal pipeline maintenance, the transition to more expensive summer-blend fuel, and an increase in driving, according to GasBuddy analysis.

Rob Thummel, portfolio manager at $9 billion investment manager Tortoise Capital, expects gas prices to rise in roughly the same rate as oil prices over the coming weeks.

If crude jumps 10%, gas prices will as well, said Thummel.

Upstate SC Gas landscape

According to GasBuddy, in Greenville, Spartanburg, and Anderson, gas prices have shown similar trends to the national average, with drivers experiencing gradual increases at the pump.

Upstate South Carolina stations are adjusting prices in response to crude oil fluctuations and seasonal factors. Here’s the latest prices as of Mondy, March 2 at noon:

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Greenville gas prices

  • Stop-A-Minit: 1091 S Piedmont Hwy., recently reported $2.47
  • Power Trac: 470 Bessie Road, recently reported $2.47
  • BP: 1631 White Horse Road, recently reported $2.49
  • Payal Express Mart: 1800 Easley Bridge Road, recently reported $2.49

Spartanburg gas prices

  • QuikTrip: 21 Fairview Church Road, recently reported $2.26
  • Walmart Neighborhood Market: 201 Cedar Springs Road, recently reported $2.27
  • Costco Wholesale: 211 W Blackstock Road, recently reported $2.31
  • Sam’s Club, 200 Peachwood Center Drive, recently reported $2.31

Anderson gas prices

  • Spinix: 3221 S Murray Ave., recently reported $2.31.
  • Raceway: 4606 Clemson Blvd., recently reported $2.34.
  • BP: 501 E Greenville St., recently reported $2.39.
  • Sam’s Club: 3812 Liberty Hwy., recently reported $2.44

Travis Jacque Rose is the trending news reporter for the Greenville News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at trose@gannett.com



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