COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCIV) — LaNorris Sellers is hungry to build off a breakout 2024 season.

The South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback has been the talk of the College Football offseason. And while at the Manning Passing Academy, Sellers pulled back the curtain on how it felt to be left out of the College Football Playoff following a 9-4 season.

“It’s only three or four plays,” Sellers said during an interview with Crescent City Sports. “Just those small plays in the game, one or two plays, it matters a lot. That’s what kept us out of the playoffs.”

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South Carolina missing the playoffs created controversy, as the College Football Playoff committee opted to include an 11-1 Indiana and 11-2 SMU over the three-loss Gamecocks. Alabama and Ole Miss also missed out on the playoffs as a result of three losses.

Still, South Carolina remained one of the hottest teams as the season came to an end. It won the final six regular-season games, including ranked wins over Texas A&M, Missouri and Clemson, the eventual ACC champion.

The Gamecocks picked up a fourth loss in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl to Illinois.

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Now, entering the 2025 season, which starts on Aug. 31 against Virginia Tech, Sellers is a trendy Heisman candidate. During his stellar 2024 campaign, he combined for 3,200 total yards and 25 touchdowns. It was his first year starting.

Also rising are Sellers’ NFL Draft prospects. According to ESPN, Sellers is widely considered a top-five pick in 2026.

But he doesn’t seem worried about anything other than winning in South Carolina.

“When I see my name [in NFL mock drafts], it’s cool,” Sellers said. “I’ve still got to go out and play, so that’s all I’m worried about.”