Robby Ashford unable to claim starting job for South Carolina

Shane Beamer announced on Tuesday that freshman LaNorris Sellers, not Ashford, would be the starting quarterback for his team in 2024.

Former Auburn quarterback Robby Ashford transferred away from the Plains following an up-and-down 2023 season in which he saw his role decrease under new head coach Hugh Freeze. After committing to South Carolina, the 21-year-old senior seemed to have the inside track at starting games for his new team in 2024 following the graduation of Spencer Rattler.

That inside track unfortunately didn’t hold up for Ashford, as head coach Shane Beamer announced on Tuesday that freshman LaNorris Sellers, not Ashford, would be the starting quarterback for his team in 2024. The news is tough for Ashford, who has received consistent starting quarterback reps in 2022 for Auburn.

After attempting just 27 passes all of last season, the Hoover, AL native is likely to receive a similar workload behind the 19-year-old Sellers. With expectations for South Carolina fairly low heading into the season it’s also possible Beamer allows his freshman starter to play with a long leash in hopes of developing his game on the fly.

Whether or not Ashford gets a chance to lead his team this season likely depends on the health and early success, or lack thereof, of Sellers. If he doesn’t manage to start more than a handful of games, it will be an unfortunate and disappointing end to the former four-star recruit.

Ashford, Sellers, and the Gamecocks open the season on August 31 against Old Dominion in Columbia.

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