South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers is “progressing nicely,” head coach Shane Beamer said Thursday, as the redshirt freshman attempts to return from an ankle sprain but it appears to be a game-time decision whether Sellers will play in this Saturday night’s matchup with Akron.
“Certainly, last Saturday was a physical game and we had some guys that had some wear and tear, certainly, and normal bumps and bruises; we’ll see as we get here to Saturday,” Beamer said. “LaNorris, speaking to him specifically, he’s done a little bit more in practice each day this week. He did more on Tuesday than what he did on Sunday. He did more on Wednesday than what he did on Tuesday and he did more today than what he did yesterday, so we’ll see how he is on Saturday, but he’s progressing nicely.”
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Sellers, who has started each of the first three games for South Carolina, sprained his ankle late in the first half of the loss to LSU. He wanted to return to the game in the second half, and did so for one drive, but the staff wasn’t comfortable with him finishing the game at less than 100 percent.
At least three other key players, wide receiver Jared Brown, defensive lineman T.J. Sanders, and safety Nick Emmanwori exited the LSU game early. Beamer added Thursday that linebacker Bangally Kamara is also dealing with an undisclosed injury.
“The other two that we’re most concerned about would be Bangally Kamara and Jared Brown,” Beamer said. “They’re kind of in the same boat as LaNorris. They both did a little bit more each day this week. And as far as anybody else, we’re good. Nick E. is good; I know he got banged up last week, he’s fine. T.J. Sanders is fine. Emory Floyd will be back. Dre Jacobs will be good to go. Trovon (Baugh) and Gage (Larvadain) are a week healthier as well.”
Floyd missed the first three games of the season. Larvadain has been banged up since preseason camp.
If Sellers isn’t ready — or if the staff isn’t quite comfortable yet putting him back out there — then Robby Ashford will likely get his first start in the Garnet and Black.
“We told Robby and Davis (Beville) they’ll continue to compete this week and LaNorris assures me he’s good and will be ready to roll,” Beamer said Tuesday during his weekly press conference. “But Robby went into the LSU game as the second quarterback and came out of the LSU game as the second quarterback. He’ll be better for it. Davis is someone that we have a lot of confidence in, there’s no question about it, and we’ll continue to develop everybody at every position.”
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While many have speculated that the Gamecocks may “hold” Sellers another week, especially with a bye week ahead and an out-of-conference foe this week, Beamer said the staff will make the best decision for both Sellers and the team.
“Saturday, LaNorris wanted to play in that game,” he said Thursday. “I didn’t think it was best for him or the team for him to finish the second half from a health standpoint. I just didn’t think he was where he needed to be. Certainly, if a guy is where he needs to be — any position, quarterback or kicker or whatever — if they feel like they’re where they need to be in order to play and we feel like they’re where they need to be, then we’re going to get them out there for sure.”
The Gamecocks and Zips kick off at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday at Williams-Brice Stadium on ESPNU.
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