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As the South Carolina Gamecocks prepare for their annual Garnet and Black Spring Game on Friday night, fans are especially eager to get a first look at the quarterback room—one of the most talked-about and important aspects of the team heading into the 2025 season. With a mix of experience, young talent, and new arrivals, the spring game offers an early glimpse into how the QB depth chart might shape up and what to expect from the offense this fall.
LaNorris Sellers: The Returning Starter
Leading the way is sophomore quarterback LaNorris Sellers, who returns after a breakout freshman campaign that earned him SEC Freshman of the Year honors. Sellers threw for 2,274 yards and 18 touchdowns while adding 655 yards and 7 scores on the ground. His dual-threat ability gave South Carolina’s offense a dynamic spark last season, and now the question is whether he can take that next step in his development.
Head coach Shane Beamer has publicly praised Sellers’ leadership and growth during spring practices, making it clear that he remains the frontrunner for the starting job. However, Beamer has also emphasized that competition remains open across the board, including at quarterback. For Sellers, Friday night will be an opportunity to showcase his comfort within the offense, improve on his decision-making, and build chemistry with a wide receiver corps that’s still developing its identity.
Air Noland: The Talented Transfer
Joining the quarterback competition this spring is Air Noland, a left-handed signal-caller who transferred from Ohio State. Noland, originally a highly regarded recruit, saw limited action in Columbus and entered the portal in search of more opportunities. While he doesn’t bring the same level of mobility as Sellers, Noland is known for his accuracy and touch, particularly on intermediate throws.
Noland’s performance in the spring game will be closely watched, as he is expected to compete for the backup role—or perhaps challenge for more if Sellers falters at any point. The spring game will give coaches and fans alike a clearer picture of whether Noland is ready to push for playing time or if he’ll need more time to get comfortable in South Carolina’s system.
Cutter Woods: The Freshman with Big Potential
Another name to watch is true freshman Cutter Woods, a standout from Westside High School in Anderson, South Carolina. Woods led his team to a state title and put up eye-popping numbers in his senior year, throwing for over 3,900 yards and 42 touchdowns. While it’s unlikely that Woods will see significant snaps this fall, especially with two veterans ahead of him, the spring game could serve as an important first impression for fans and coaches.
Woods has already impressed in practice with his poise and command for a freshman. Friday’s game will test how well he handles live pressure and whether he’s ready to potentially contribute sooner than expected.
What to Watch For
There are several key things South Carolina fans should focus on during the spring game when it comes to evaluating the quarterbacks:
- Decision-Making: Are the quarterbacks reading defenses quickly? Are they forcing throws or making smart decisions?
- Pocket Presence: How comfortable do they look under pressure? Are they escaping too soon or standing strong and delivering?
- Chemistry with Receivers: Are timing routes clicking? Is there rhythm in the passing game?
- Accuracy: Especially for Noland, accuracy will be a focal point. For Sellers, throwing on the run and deep-ball precision will be areas of interest.
- Leadership: Body language, energy, and how each quarterback commands the huddle can speak volumes about who’s ready to lead this team.
The Bigger Picture
While no final decisions will be made based on one scrimmage, the spring game is a valuable checkpoint. It gives fans a first glimpse of the team’s identity, allows the coaching staff to evaluate talent under game-like conditions, and sets the tone heading into summer workouts. With a promising group of quarterbacks, South Carolina appears to be in a much better position under center than in recent years. Friday night’s performance could give fans plenty of reasons to feel optimistic about what’s to come in 2025.
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