Kalen DeBoer defines ‘critical’ detail to emphasize when preparing for LaNorris Sellers
By Jacob Moss
Published:
The No. 8 Alabama Crimson Tide are getting ready for their second SEC test of the 2026 campaign this weekend, with the South Carolina Gamecocks set to travel to Tuscaloosa this Saturday for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
This will be the third straight season the Tide and the Gamecocks meet on the gridiron, with each of the last 2 games decided by a single possession. If these recent meetings are any indication, this Saturday will be another very close contest in Bryant-Denny Stadium.
One of the main reasons South Carolina has been so competitive against Alabama in recent years is star quarterback LaNorris Sellers, whose dual-threat ability under center has been a handful for the Tide over the last couple of years. Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer touched on the challenges of facing an athletic QB like Sellers on Wednesday afternoon and said getting pressure on him is “critical.”
There’s always gonna be schematic things that you can do with different pressures or stunts, but there’s sometimes we’re just getting home with four, and we’re just pushing the offensive line and anyone else involved in the protection into the quarterback’s face. But also, not giving lanes where the quarterback can take off and run. And so, that’s gonna be really critical this week against a quarterback that can get vertical on you, can beat you around the edge. He’s got a combination of size and speed. So, we gotta be on our A-game when it comes to that pass rush and our lane integrity. And also just keeping our eyes up so that we can see where LaNorris Sellers is at.
Sellers hasn’t exactly been lighting the world on fire this season, but there’s no question he has the ability to turn it on at any moment. If the Tide want to make sure that doesn’t happen this Saturday, then keeping him contained in the pocket will be imperative like DeBoer says.
