Shane Beamer emphasizes Luke Doty is 'strictly a quarterback'

Luke Doty is entering his fifth season at South Carolina. Having been with the program since 2020, Doty has played just about any position the Gamecocks have asked of him.

Doty arrived to Columbia as a quarterback and at one time, Doty was a near 1,000-yard passer for the Gamecocks during the 2021 season before the arrival of Spencer Rattler. In the two seasons since, Doty decided to remain loyal to his home state school and has moved all around the South Carolina lineup ever since. He’s played both wide receiver and on special teams over the past two seasons.

“Luke is strictly a quarterback,” Beamer said. “Luke is smart enough where if we needed him to go take some reps at receiver — I shouldn’t say strictly — he’s still working in the return game. He’s doing all that, but in regard to offensive positions, he’s not doing anything with wide receivers right now.

“We could put him out there and certainly do some things with him from a receiver standpoint, but he’s working at quarterback right now. Obviously, LaNorris (Sellers) is the starter going in the preseason camp, and those guys are all fighting to be the backup at this point, and Luke’s got the most experience.””

2023 was the last time Doty completed a pass for South Carolina during his limited time under center. Instead, the 6-foot-1, 218-pound Swiss Army knife has not only lined up out wide — where he caught 13 passes for 123 yards and a touchdown in 2023 — but he also did the most unselfish thing a quarterback could do and play special teams.

It appears he’s set to drop the receiver tag while maintaining his status as a South Carolina special teamers. Beamer gave him his vote of confidence heading into fall camp.

“If we had to play Virginia Tech tomorrow and LaNorris had to come out of the game for a play,” Beamer said. “Luke would be the next quarterback in the game as we stand here today.”

Still, that doesn’t mean the QB2 spot is Doty’s. He’ll have to earn that spot from both incoming freshman Cutter Woods and Ohio State transfer Air Noland.

“That second quarterback and third quarterback battle is something,” Beamer concluded. “All of those guys have had really good summers and I’m looking forward to seeing how those guys evolve over the next month.”

Those positions will be decided by the time that the official depth chart is released ahead of Week 1. South Carolina’s season opener against Virginia Tech is set for Aug. 31 in Atlanta.