Texas A&M vs. South Carolina: LaNorris Sellers Returns From Ankle Injury in a Tight Defensive Battle

No. 21 South Carolina and Texas A&M played a tight, low-scoring SEC game at Williams-Brice Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 7. The biggest worry for Gamecocks fans was star quarterback LaNorris Sellers, who hurt his left ankle in the first half and came back after halftime.

Game status: At about 6 p.m. ET, the game was still in progress. South Carolina led 10-9 with about five minutes left in the fourth quarter, according to ESPN’s live game page. A final score had not been posted when this was published.

What happened to LaNorris Sellers

Sellers was sacked and sandwiched between defenders in the second quarter, and he lost a fumble at the Aggies’ 18-yard line on the play, CBS Sports reported. He grabbed his left ankle and hobbled to the sideline with team trainers. He went into the injury tent and then walked to the locker room on his own with a little over four minutes left before halftime.

“We’re concerned,” South Carolina coach Shane Beamer told the ESPN broadcast at halftime, per CBS Sports. “He’s got an ankle, and he’s getting an X-ray on it. I don’t have anything else.”

Sellers returned on South Carolina’s first possession of the third quarter. Reports on how well he was moving differ. CBS Sports wrote that he showed no ill effects from the injury, while USA Today, citing the ESPN broadcast, said his mobility was limited. X-ray results had not been publicly announced in the coverage reviewed here.

Beamer also said at halftime that he had confidence in backup quarterback Cutter Woods if needed. According to USA Today, he added that “the bigger issue right now is we’re getting our butts kicked on the line of scrimmage.”

Why Sellers matters so much

South Carolina came in at 5-3 and ranked No. 21 in the first College Football Playoff rankings after three straight wins, CBS Sports noted. Sellers has accounted for 13 touchdowns during that streak. He was named AP National Player of the Week after putting up 397 yards of total offense and five touchdowns in a 42-25 win at Oklahoma, per CBS Sports and USA Today.

USA Today reported that he entered Saturday with 1,849 passing yards and 22 total touchdowns against seven interceptions.

How the scoring has gone

ESPN’s scoring summary shows a game dominated by field goals:

• 2nd quarter: Texas A&M’s D. Olano kicked a 40-yard field goal (3-0 A&M)
• 2nd quarter: Sellers hit Mazeo Bennett Jr. for a 1-yard touchdown (7-3 South Carolina)
• End of first half: Olano made a 46-yard field goal with two seconds left (7-6)
• 3rd quarter: Olano added a 44-yarder (9-7 A&M)
• 4th quarter: M. Orsan kicked a 43-yard field goal with 8:14 left to put South Carolina back in front, 10-9

Before he got hurt, Sellers was 10 of 15 for 151 yards and a touchdown, according to CBS Sports. ESPN’s live stats later showed him at 19 of 30 for 249 yards. For Texas A&M, running back Rueben Owens II had more than 130 rushing yards, which fits Beamer’s halftime comments about the Aggies running the ball.

FAQ