Quarterbacks LaNorris Sellers of South Carolina and D.J. Lagway, formerly of Florida and now at Baylor, entered the 2025 college football season with high expectations that ultimately went unmet, according to recent evaluations by several coaching and scouting professionals. Both players have dropped significantly in rankings ahead of the 2026 season amid concerns over their on-field performance and consistency.
Last year, Sellers and Lagway were widely regarded as top-tier prospects. One Power 4 offensive coordinator noted that if starting a team, they would likely select Lagway as quarterback, while a scouting director had lauded Sellers as the best quarterback in the country due to his desirable traits. However, their 2025 campaigns fell short of those standards, reflected in their shifts in The Athletic’s College QB Tiers, with Sellers falling from No. 3 to No. 18 and Lagway from No. 5 to No. 42.
Multiple coaches surveyed, speaking anonymously to provide candid feedback, pointed to measurable declines in key areas. Sellers experienced drops in completion percentage, passing efficiency, yards per play, and touchdowns, along with an increased interception rate and off-target throws. This regression diminished his projected standing as a potential top pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
An SEC assistant coach commented that Sellers lacked the accuracy necessary to be entrusted with a predominantly passing-focused offense. Another Power 4 offensive coordinator who had previously been enthusiastic about Sellers observed inconsistency in his game tape, noting that while Sellers’ best moments rival any prospect in the draft, his low points were concerning and undermined his overall reliability.
Lagway’s 2025 season also exhibited declines, with decreased passing efficiency, yards per attempt, and yards per play, despite a slight improvement in completion percentage. He turned the ball over 15 times, including five in a difficult outing against Louisiana State University. A Big 12 personnel staff member singled out that game as a major setback and noted the challenge of moving past such performances. Another offensive coordinator raised questions about Lagway’s decision-making, particularly his tendency to place the ball at risk when progressing through reads beyond man-to-man situations.
Despite the setbacks, both quarterbacks retain respect for their physical tools and potential. Sellers, standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 238 pounds, combines size, strength, and mobility, qualities that keep optimism alive among evaluators who acknowledge the challenges he faced behind an offensive line that allowed a high pressure rate. An SEC general manager said Sellers remains capable of taking over games and ranks among the SEC’s top few quarterbacks. Lagway’s size, arm strength, and athleticism also continue to attract positive assessments, with some observers believing his struggles at Florida were partly due to injuries and coaching instability during the season.
Both players will work under new offensive coordinators in 2026, a development viewed as favorable by many analysts. South Carolina hired Kendal Briles, known for tailoring offenses to quarterback strengths, as their new coordinator. Briles’s previous work with K.J. Jefferson at Arkansas demonstrated successful integration of a dual-threat quarterback’s skills. Meanwhile, Lagway’s move to Baylor under Jake Spavital, who is considered to run a quarterback-friendly scheme, has raised hopes for a rebound. Several quarterbacks under Spavital’s guidance have produced strong statistical seasons, suggesting an environment conducive to Lagway’s growth.
Looking ahead, many view the upcoming season as a critical proving ground. Personnel staffers emphasize the need for Sellers and Lagway to demonstrate consistency and decision-making to validate their draft potential. While their physical attributes generate excitement, questions remain about whether either can consistently translate talent into sustained success at the collegiate level and beyond.