COLUMBIA — South Carolina football is starting backup quarterback Robby Ashford on Saturday against Akron.

Starter LaNorris Sellers wore a sweatshirt underneath his jersey and sweatpants during warmups, with a medical boot on his right foot, while the rest of the team warmed up in full uniforms. Sellers signed autographs and stood on the sideline while South Carolina ran through pregame drills.

Sellers was questionable after injuring an ankle against LSU last Saturday, but South Carolina coach Shane Beamer said Tuesday that Sellers assured him he would be good to go to face the Zips (1-2). On Thursday, Beamer said Sellers had been progressing nicely, but did not confirm he would play.

Against the Tigers, Sellers was injured shortly before halftime and only played one drive in the second half before Ashford finished the game. In Week 2 against Kentucky, Sellers injured his hip and missed a majority of the second quarter, and Ashford played then as well.

It will be Ashford's first career start for the Gamecocks (2-1). Ashford started his college career at Oregon before transferring to Auburn.

With Ashford the starter, Davis Beville and Luke Doty are backup options, as is freshman Dante Reno. Doty has seen game action for South Carolina before. Beville, a graduate of Greenville High, played three seasons at Pittsburgh before playing the last two years at Oklahoma.

Beville and Reno were taking snaps behind Ashford during warmup.

Robby Ashford stats

Ashford is 3-of-5 passing for 49 yards this season and has 37 rushing yards on 17 carries.

At Auburn last season, Ashford completed 14 of 27 passes for 145 yards and two touchdowns. He rushed 217 yards on 46 carries, with five rushing touchdowns.

Ashford's best season was his first with the Tigers. In 2022, he was 123-of-250 passing for 1,613 passing yards and threw seven touchdowns. He added 710 rushing yards on 153 carries, with seven more rushing touchdowns.

LaNorris Sellers stats

Through three games, Sellers has completed 29 of 53 passes for 393 yards with two touchdowns. He has rushed 145 yards on 40 carries, with three rushing touchdowns. He's been sacked 10 times and has thrown two interceptions.

In 2023, Sellers carried the ball five times for 51 yards and scored one rushing touchdown. He was 4-of-4 passing, throwing two touchdowns.

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

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: South Carolina vs Akron: Robby Ashford is qb, LaNorris Sellers out