Former Auburn Quarterback Loses QB Competition At South Carolina

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A former Auburn Tigers’ quarterback has lost the quarterback competition at another SEC school.

Hugh Freeze’s quarterback room has undergone some major changes through his first two seasons on the Plains. Part-time starter Robby Ashford stayed with the team this past season but ultimately lost the starting job to Michigan State transfer Payton Thorne. Ashford served time as a backup before deciding to transfer this offseason.

Ashford transferred to South Carolina in January of this year and battled to win the starting quarterback job. Unfortunately, Gamecocks’ head coach Shane Beamer announced that LaNorris Sellers had won the starting job on Tuesday.

“I’ll tell you guys what I told LaNorris and all the other quarterbacks that coming out of spring practice, LaNorris is our starting quarterback,” Beamer told members of the media at the Florence Country Club just before a Welcome Home Tour event. “Just like with all of our positions, that we’ll continue to compete at all positions. I told Robby Ashford that the moment I say that at a Gamecock Event, the headline is going to be, ‘Beamer names LaNorris Sellers starting quarterback.’ LaNorris is the starting quarterback coming out of spring and like I told LaNorris, like I told Robby, Robby did a great job in spring practice, along with our other quarterbacks. LaNorris did a great job and I expect him to continue to compete, continue to earn that position as well.”

A South Florence (South Carolina) High standout, Sellers was a 4-star prospect in the 2023 recruiting class. He signed with the Gamecocks over offers from Syracuse, Virginia, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech and others.

Sellers recently expressed his feelings towards the Auburn transfer. He likes Ashford and thinks he’s cool.

“Robby is cool; I like Robby a lot. He’s an experienced guy. He’s taught me some stuff, just like I’ve taught him some stuff,” said Sellers. “He asks me stuff about the playbook all the time, like what I’m seeing, play-wise when he’s in. Then, when I’m out, I’m asking him, ‘Yo, what did you see? What could I have done better?’ He’s taking the system; he’s learning the system fast — just another experienced guy. I like Robby.”

Ashford began his career at Oregon and spent two seasons as a backup before transferring to Auburn in 2022. Through 22 games in two seasons, Ashford completed 49.5% of his passes for 1,758 yards, nine touchdowns and nine interceptions while rushing for 927 yards and 12 touchdowns.