Luke Doty confirms he will return to South Carolina

South Carolina quarterback Luke Doty opted to stay with South Carolina for the 2023 season. Ahead of the Gamecocks’ Gator Bowl showdown with Notre Dame Dec. 30, the backup quarterback was asked if he would come back to school next fall.

“Absolutely. Absolutely,” Doty said.

This is amid Spencer Rattler’s uncertainty regarding returning to college for the 2023 campaign or entering the NFL Draft. Rattler opted to play in the Gator Bowl for at least one more game with South Carolina after transferring from Oklahoma prior to the season.

But regardless of the pecking order at the moment, Doty is very excited to have his team compete in a noteworthy postseason game.

“I think it’s gonna be a lot of fun,” Doty said. “I think like I said, we talked about it this morning,  it’s a historic bowl, just like you said. And it’s something that … I know we’ve been to this bowl before, but it’s been a long time since we’ve been in this caliber of bowl. So I think we’re all just really excited to get down there, to be a part of something that special and that unique. 

“You know, we’re playing a great Notre Dame team, but we’ll be ready for them and like I said, it’s just gonna be a fun week. We’re gonna do everything we can to prepare the right way, but also enjoy our time down there and continue to get closer as a team.”

Doty appeared in just four games this season, completing 10-of-14 passes for 146 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. In his career, he is 139-of-228 passing (61%) for 1,526 yards, nine touchdowns and eight interceptions.

As far as Rattler is concerned, he got hot down the stretch to lead South Carolina to some big wins, such as a victory over Tennessee.

“I mean, I think he’s done everything like a pro,” Doty said of Rattler. “You know, the way that he handled things when he first got here, how we went through camp, and really how we went through the season. You know, me and him got pretty tight just coming in every single day from beginning of the week, Monday to Friday, in the hotel. You know, we both felt like we always had a great game plan that we were ready and prepared for whoever we were facing during the week. 

“So just being able to go through that with him. And him helping me out and me helping him out, that’s something that I’m never gonna forget and I’ve got his back no matter what. And I know he has mine. So like I said, whatever happens he’s gonna do great, he’s gonna be awesome in the bowl game, and we’re just gonna go out there have some fun and make plays.”