Syracuse football picked up its first 2023 commitment. Three-star quarterback LaNorris Sellers verbally pledged to SU yesterday afternoon. The South Carolina native was previously on his way to Charlottesville to suit up for Virginia but de-committed back in mid-January.
You can’t help but think that new ‘Cuse QB’s coach Jason Beck had a hand in this move. Robert Anae’s right-hand man was the primary recruiter on behalf of the Orange and of course was brought to the Hill from UVA a few months ago. So the #BeckEffect is in full form and Syracuse has its foundation built for what is a pivotal ’23 cycle.
Sellers is a top-650 prospect nationally, the 32nd best signal caller, and a top 10 player in the Palmetto State according to 247sports.com. The 6’5″, 215 pound dual-threat athlete owns seven offers including Virginia Tech, Memphis, and Washington State. Let’s review Sellers’ film and see what Dino Babers and Company are getting.
Play 1
Seven defenders are inside the box ready to stop the run. The defensive backs appear to be creeping up as well. Most units sport this look right now against Syracuse because of its prolific rushing attack. It appears as though the play call is a run-pass option and Sellers needs to make a quick read. He can either hand it off on a half back dive or pull it and hit a quick slant behind the linebackers.
Watch Sellers’ eyes don’t even worry about the throw, he’s staring down the near linebacker the entire play. He notices that the backer is stepping towards the line of scrimmage ready to engage in a block and vacates the space behind him. Sellers delivers a pin-point pass for a big play. SU can run this kind of stuff until it’s broken even right now with Garrett Shrader.
Play 2
Not the best camera angle here but this is more about fundamentals than X’s and O’s. Have you seen Shrader throw a pass with this kind of touch? What Syracuse needs is a dual-threat quarterback, yes. However, it also needs a signal caller that can be a serious threat through the air. Sellers drops this right in the bucket and it was dropped but SU has the athletes to convert these down-field pass plays already on its roster.
Play 3
So we’ve covered Sellers’ ability to pass the football, but how about his legs? South Florence dials up a QB Power run to the right side. Sellers demonstrates his vision and patience running behind blockers and charging forward for a decent gain. Syracuse deployed quite a bit of designed runs for Shrader and even Tommy DeVito early in the season. It’s promising to see Sellers showing off some mastery in some critical run concepts.
Play 4
Playmaking ability? It factor? Yeah, Sellers has some of that too. This play was dead from the start, it looks like read option but it’s actually a play-action pass. Sellers has two defenders in his face while the play is still developing and has to just tuck it and run. The three-star displays his dual-threat traits by zooming past the blitzers and creating something out of nothing.
Play 5
Whoever South Florence High School’s offensive play-caller is deserves a pay raise honestly. This offense is predicated on set-ups and deception. We’ve already seen Sellers keep on a QB Power but this time there’s a pass concept to it and it works to perfection. Sellers sprints out left appearing as though he’s setting up a run but then pulls it back and rifles a quick strike to a waiting receiver. Syracuse deployed this philosophy a little but in 2021 but could do so more in the future. Expect Babers and Anae to dial this up if and when Sellers is in an Orange uniform.
Play 6
See above…
Play 7
Sellers showed us his chef’s kiss on a downfield pass earlier but what kind of strength does he have? This play shows it as he bullets an aeriel shot on time and on target to a receiver running a precise curl. That pass needs to be out before the wideout finishes his cut and Sellers executed too perfection. Syracuse doesn’t have a quarterback on its roster right now that has shown a consistent ability to anticipate like this.
Play 8
Are you kidding me with this? Absolutely speechless, that’s all we have to say today.
Closing Thoughts
LaNorris Sellers is an absolute stud. The South Carolina product would be the best signal caller on the roster if he was eligible to play right now. Jason Beck deserves all the credit in the world for finding Sellers originally while with Virginia and putting his foot on the gas pedal upon joining the Syracuse coaching staff. Take note of this right now, Sellers will be a a top three quarterback in the ACC within his first two years on the Hill…
