No. 11 South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers did not return to Week 3’s game against the Vanderbilt Commodores prior to halftime.
Vanderbilt linebacker Langston Patterson was ejected from Saturday’s game at Williams-Brice Stadium as a result of targeting. Patterson came unblocked on a blitz from Vanderbilt defensive coordinator Steve Gregory and hit Sellers on a play that the officials deemed was a result of Patterson leading with his helmet.
Sellers eventually walked off the field with the assistance of trainers following the hit.
What Do We Know about the LaNorris Sellers Injury?
Patterson is in his second season as a starting Vanderbilt linebacker after breaking out in a 2023 season in which he led the team in tackles with 74.
Here’s the play that knocked Sellers out of the game. https://t.co/sIMF1cikUJ
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) September 14, 2025
Sellers is a potential future high selection for any upcoming NFL Draft. The redshirt sophomore is coming off a 2024 season in which he threw for 196 completions out of 299 attempts for 18 touchdowns and 2,534 yards.
It’s being reported that trainers were shown looking at Sellers’ head with his helmet off near the bench. He was hit near the chin and side of head area and went facemask first into the turf.
LaNorris Sellers had to be helped off the field after this hit.
The defender was called for targeting and ejected from the game. pic.twitter.com/obHOp93MIN
— ESPN (@espn) September 14, 2025
“I asked [the official] as soon as it happened if they were looking at it for targeting,” South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer said at halftime according to CBS Sports. “When your quarterback is laying on the ground, he probably got hit in the head. And for whatever reason, it took them a while to buzz down. I don’t know what’s going on in Birmingham [SEC headquarters] or whatever they’re looking at, but it’s pretty obvious.”
As of presstime, South Carolina currently has 209 yards on the matchup across 143 passing yards and 66 on the ground under Beamer.
Sept. 13th also saw safety Bryce Anderson of Texas A&M carted off the field due to injury as well, during the Aggies’ top-20 matchup at Notre Dame.
South Carolina and Vanderbilt both entered the matchup with 2-0 starts on the 2024-25 college football season so far. The Gamecocks will play current-No. 25 Missouri on Sept. 20. Vanderbilt will take on Utah State in Week 4 before hosting Utah State on Sept. 27.
Sellers has since been ruled out for the remainder of Saturday’s play as backup Luke Doty currently takes to the field.
