Field Yates Says LaNorris Sellers Has 'Higher' Upside Than Arch, Any 2026 NFL Prospect

South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers has a "higher" upside than any other potential 2026 NFL draft prospect, including Texas signal-caller Arch Manning, per ESPN's Field Yates during "First Draft" (16:05 mark).

"The good and the upside of LaNorris Sellers is higher than any prospect, Arch Manning included, in the entire draft class. It just is. Period. End of story," Yates said.

"Twenty years old...he has got this gigantic frame. He looks like a baseball player in his lower half with these thick legs and powerful pistons that he is able to run with. He's an excellent, excellent scrambler. He's also a great in-pocket navigator. He, no surprise, has a huge arm. Still getting there in terms of being a rhythm passer who can just sort of click, you know, everything can be ball, get the ball, see your first read, deliver a strike. That could come in time. But man, the upside of LaNorris Sellers is tantalizing..."

Sellers notably landed first overall to the New Orleans Saints in the B/R NFL Scouting Department's latest mock draft.

"The selling points for LaNorris Sellers are obvious," the mock read in part. "He's a 6'3", 240-pound prospect, with fantastic movement skills and a strong frame. Plus, the ball explodes out of his hand."

The mock also read: "Sellers has the growth potential to be an elite NFL quarterback, but he'll need significant developmental time to reach that point."

Sellers is in his second season as South Carolina's starting quarterback. Over his first two games (wins against Virginia Tech and SC State), Sellers has completed 60.5 percent of his passes for 337 yards (8.9 yards per attempt) and two touchdowns (no interceptions). He's also rushed for 48 yards and one more score.

Last season, Sellers completed 65.6 percent of his passes for 2,534 yards (8.5 YPA) and 18 touchdowns (seven picks) while rushing for 674 yards and seven touchdowns.

Sellers will certainly get a chance to showcase his talents this year, especially during a five-week stretch from Oct. 11 to Nov. 15, when the team faces five straight opponents currently ranked in the top 20 of the latest Associated Press poll, including at No. 3 LSU.

For now, Sellers and No. 11 South Carolina hope to keep their good start going on Saturday when the team hosts Vanderbilt at 7:45 p.m. ET.