Shane Beamer calls out reporting around LaNorris Sellers, Dylan Stewart returns
Published:
The South Carolina Gamecocks received great news when quarterback LaNorris Sellers and defensive end Dylan Stewart announced they were returning to the program for the 2026 campaign. Their presence gives head coach Shane Beamer a much better chance at rebounding from this year’s 4-8 mark than he otherwise would have had.
One can assume NIL deals and rev share packages played at least some role in Sellers’ and Stewart’s decisions to stay in Columbia. On Tuesday, SportsTalk Media Network — a South Carolina-based outlet — claimed that the 2 men were combining for nearly $5 million in salary from the school’s total revenue-sharing allotment. Beamer saw this report on Christmas Eve and very loudly disputed it.
It’s no surprise to see Beamer stick up for his players. However, it’s hard to imagine that Sellers and Stewart aren’t combining for the rumored NIL amount. Last season, per On3 Sports’ NIL valuations, they were worth $5.5 million. Sellers had the eighth-highest valuation in the country ($3.7 million). Stewart ranked 27th ($1.8 million). Following a Christmas Day update, Sellers ($2.6 million) and Stewart ($2.2 million) still team up for a $4.8 million NIL figure, per On3.
Is it possible that Sellers and/or Stewart took less than their supposed value? Of course. Doing so just doesn’t seem to line up with the market activity we’ve gotten accustomed to seeing in college sports. Regardless, South Carolina will have both players in tow when it opens the 2026 season vs. Kent State on Sept. 5.
