South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers met with the media on Sunday. What did the Gamecocks’ star have to say about Citrus Bowl prep?
We have an edited transcript of his remarks here:
On his level of excitement for the game…
“I’m very excited. I mean, we’ve still got two days. We’ve just got walk-throughs tomorrow, then we got the game day. So, I’m excited and ready to play.”
On balancing activities with focus for the bowl…
“I’s just something I had to get used to. I was talking to my roommate about it yesterday. I was just like, it’s weird. It’s like kind of laid back, but like we’re preparing for a game at the same time, so it’s something I get used to.”
How sharp has the team looked in practice?
“We’ve looked pretty good. I mean, still like as much as fun as we’re having, like we put a lot in our practice, still getting good work in, but having fun at the same time.”
On Illinois’ defense…
“Yeah, they mix in a little bit of swipe, a lot of man coverage. They’re kind of like an SEC defense. They do a lot. They’ve got a good front seven. So, we’ve got to take what we can.”
On Rocket’s absence and other backs stepping up…
“I feel really good about it. It comes down to really the offensive line, me, the wide receivers blocking stuff. As long as we do our job, we’re good.”
Will he run more during the game?
“I’m not really sure. I guess we’ll see on Tuesday.
On improving for next season…
“This season, I’m just focusing on what’s working on this season. Then after the season, like after a game the Wednesday, we look at the film and just start from there.”
On his working with center Vershon Lee…
“Pretty good. It was smoother than I thought it was going to be but I knew from last year, I talked to a lot of guys last year so we just built up from last year and that was just close.”
On Josh Simon becoming his top receiver…
“He was a bigger body, experienced guy, so you know you can go to him. He’s been in college games and stuff. As the season progressed and stuff, we just got better and better.”
On Shula’s transition to OC…
“He’s been there, been an OC before, so it’s not really a a big change for him but I mean he’s just going into it just getting comfortable with everybody and stuff like that.”
On last time an OC has called plays on field with him and if it’s a change…
“High school. High school’s the last time. Maybe for them, for me, it’s not. I mean, I just talk to them to see what they’re thinking.”
On whether or not schools had direct contact with him regarding NIL/transfer…
“No, I didn’t. No. I mean, not really like one-one-one talking like that, just rumors and all that.”
On guys playing their last game for USC and how special it is…
“Yeah, a lot of people care. Like we hear it around the hotel, the fun events like, man, it’s my last one, I want to go out with a win, I want to go out with a win. I want to get a double-digit win for the season for the first time in forever. It’s special to everybody, we’re just taking it as that.”
On Illinois’ secondary…
“Just take what they give us. Don’t try to force anything. They try to like play games, disguise stuff real good. So just take what’s there and not really get fooled by it.”
What he likes about the team going forward…
“Really leadership and energy, like how we play together, like we come together with team bonding activities and all that. So I feel like the more closer we get, the better we’ll play. So, we’ve just got to build on that.”
Does he think about how important he is to the team?
“I don’t really think about it like that. I just think about it as like it’s our team. We just got to do what we got to do to win. Like we’re going out there, we’re playing. And like you said, playing quarterback, I’ve got to be the offense, do what we’re supposed to do, but also build up the team around me.”
On two new quarterbacks joining the room next year…
“I mean, it’s just like you said, it’s competition. So, just got to do what I supposed to do, focus on me, just let everything flow with me.”
Will he get sick of Cheez-Its after this?
“Probably. A lot of Cheez-Its.”
On his billboard…
“It was their idea. They just came, they talked, and it was like, hey , you want to do this Cheez-It thing It’s what we do for the Citrus Bowl and all that. I was like, yeah, I’ll do it. And then they came out here with a truck and everything. So, it’s exciting.”
