Shane Beamer provides injury update on quarterback Luke Doty

South Carolina starting quarterback Luke Doty is out for the season after re-injuring his foot on Saturday against Vanderbilt. WYFF News anchor Julia Morris confirmed the news, saying that Doty will have surgery on his foot. She also notes that South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer named Zeb Noland the Gamecocks’ starting quarterback moving forward.

Doty has completed 60.1 percent of his passes this season for 975 yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions. Noland started at quarterback for South Carolina to start the year while Doty rehabbed his foot. On the season, Noland has completed 58.2 percent of his passes for six touchdowns and one interception.

Noland, who started the offseason as a grad assistant for South Carolina, has now been named the team’s starting quarterback yet again.

Noland led South Carolina to victory on Saturday after Doty re-injured his foot

Doty completed 17 of his 27 passes for 242 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions before leaving the game against Vanderbilt. Noland took over for the final drive for South Carolina with the Gamecocks trailing by six and less than a minute on the clock. On that drive, Noland quickly put together an eight play, 75-yard touchdown drive. Noland was 5-of-8 for 75 yards and the touchdown on the drive, putting the Gamecocks in the win column.

Doty originally returned from his foot injury for South Carolina in Week 3 against Georgia. Noland got the start in that game but left with an injury of his own. Doty was available at that time, so he came in and finished the game for South Carolina.

Last season, Doty saw limited action late in the year as he transitioned to quarterback. He completed 43 of his 71 passes for 405 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions. Noland began his collegiate career at Iowa State before transferring to North Dakota State in 2019. There, he was expected to sit behind Trey Lance, but COVID-19 pushed the FCS season to the spring and Lance opted out, leaving Noland as the starter.

Earlier in the year, Noland said that he just tries to keep it simple and be safe with the ball while leading South Carolina’s offense.

“My job is to go out there and run the offense, eliminate turnovers and eliminate bad plays,” Noland said. “I’m going to do whatever it takes to win. It doesn’t matter to me who’s playing quarterback, whether it’s me or whoever.”