South Carolina backup quarterback Cutter Woods received an uptick in first-team snaps this week, sources told ESPN, signaling the Gamecocks' staff is preparing to replace starting quarterback La Norris Sellers if his struggles continue. Sellers remains the starter, but the increased reps for Woods show a tangible shift in strategy. Coach Shane Beamer emphasized competition this week, with a clear message to Sellers that he must play better.
Earlier in the week, Woods took nearly a quarter of the team's first-team reps, though those decreased later in the week as Sellers retained the starting role. The Gamecocks (2-2) are 0-2 in the SEC ahead of their home game against Kentucky. Sellers has completed 62.1% of his passes this season, second-worst among SEC quarterbacks behind Texas A&M's Marcel Reed (55.4%), with six touchdowns and four interceptions—third-most in the SEC.
Woods, a talented second-year player viewed internally as the future starter, has played in six career games, all in relief, completing 17 of 25 passes for 161 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. South Carolina leads the SEC in rushing, where Sellers has thrived under offensive coordinator Kendal Briles, averaging 6.8 yards per carry. However, the passing game ranks ninth in the SEC, and Sellers needs to improve after failing to recapture his 2024 form, when he accounted for 25 total touchdowns and was an NFL prospect.
Source: ESPN General · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing