LEXINGTON, Ky. — Last week, South Carolina football quarterback LaNorris Sellers took a deep breath after the season opener.

First game as the starter "is out of the way," Sellers said Tuesday.

After the 31-6 win over Kentucky on Saturday, the Gamecocks (2-0, 1-0 SEC) danced, and Sellers sort of did as well.

"I did what I could, I was happy, I'm not really a dancer but I celebrated," Sellers said, speaking to media as the echoes of music and celebratory screams from his teammates boomed through the walls in the lower level of Kroger Field.

Sellers did just enough to win his debut as a starter in the 23-19 victory vs Old Dominion last week. The win over the Wildcats (1-1, 0-1 SEC) was more complete but it doesn't necessarily paint the whole picture about Sellers.

"People will say what they want to say regardless if you do good or bad," Sellers said. "When you're down, they're going to talk down, when you're up, they're going to praise you, just take it game by game."

LaNorris Sellers fights through injury vs Kentucky

Sellers dealt with a mild leg injury that kept him in the locker room for nearly 10 minutes in the first half. His second play back on the field, he threw an interception, his first of the season. Coach Shane Beamer said Sellers didn't come off the field with doubt, it was just onto the next play.

Sellers was sacked on back-to-back plays in the next series. One was the fault of an offensive lineman, but on the other, Sellers needed to get rid of the ball, Beamer said.

Last week, he scrambled a lot and didn't get much going downfield, putting his head down when facing pressure. In the third quarter on Saturday, Sellers showed he's learning. On third-and-14, Sellers escaped pressure and threw on target for the 32-yard reception by Mazeo Bennett.

Bennett caught his first college touchdown on Saturday on a 24-yard reception that was also Sellers' first passing touchdown of the season.

LaNorris Sellers is still finding his identity at South Carolina

Sellers had 22 carries and one rushing touchdown last week. Against the Wildcats, Sellers got more comfortable throwing to his receivers and tight ends and ran just seven times.

He finished 11-of-15 for 159 yards, throwing two touchdowns. He showed himself as a passer, as someone who can both scramble and run, but also complete the play with a throw.

His performance Saturday flashed hints of his potential, not conclusions.

Sellers carried South Carolina to its first SEC opener win since 2017, he put up 31 points on a defense with 10 returners in Kentucky's own stadium.

He had a much better game Week 2 but arguably the most exciting aspect of Sellers' game right now is that he's still figuring out who he is on this team.

Through two games, he showed he can grow and learn at a rapid rate.

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Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at lkesin@gannett.com and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @Lulukesin

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This article originally appeared on Greenville News: South Carolina football: LaNorris Sellers' improvement key vs Kentucky