South Carolina QB Zeb Noland having surgical procedure

South Carolina quarterback Zeb Noland will undergo a “minor surgical procedure” Tuesday for a meniscus tear in his right knee, the school reported.

Noland, who made waves in fall camp after moving from graduate assistant coach to quarterback out of necessity for the Gamecocks, is “expected to be available” for the Florida game on Nov. 6, per South Carolina.

Zeb Noland has appeared in five games for the Gamecocks, recording 512 yards, six touchdowns and one interception. In South Carolina’s 44-14 loss to Texas A&M on Saturday, Noland left the game after completing 7 of 12 passes for 30 yards and was replaced by Jason Brown for the fourth quarter. Brown, who transferred in to South Carolina from St. Francis was 8-of-14 pasing for 84 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions.

Noland was thrust into action after sophomore Luke Doty, who had originally been named South Carolina’s starting quarterback, suffered a foot injury in fall camp. Doty came back in for Noland in week three after Zeb Noland suffered a hand injury in the first quarter at Georgia. Doty then reinjured his foot against Vanderbilt and underwent season-ending surgery last week. Prior to the injury, Doty completed 60.1 percent of his passes this season for 975 yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions.

Last season, Doty saw limited action late in the year as he transitioned back to quarterback from wide reciever. He completed 43 of his 71 passes for 405 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions. 

Zeb Noland joined the Gamecocks as a graduate assistant under first-year head coach Shane Beamer but still holds one year of college eligibility that South Carolina is utilizing.

Noland stated even before Doty’s injury, he wanted to do this. 

“We needed depth in the quarterback room,” he said. “Coach Beamer said in his press conference, at Oklahoma, they had seven quarterbacks in fall camp. The unfortunate events enhanced this. Deep down, I wanted to do it.”

Zeb Noland spent three seasons at Iowa State before transferring to North Dakota State, where he backed up Trey Lance. In 2020, when Lance left to prepare for the NFL Draft, after the COVID-19 pandemic postponed the FCS season, Noland stepped into the starting job. He threw for 721 yards with five touchdowns and six interceptions during the spring season.

South Carolina is 4-4 heading into the bye week. The Gamecocks have wins over Vanderbilt, their lone conference win, Troy, East Carolina and Eastern Illinois. After the bye week, Florida, Missouri, Auburn and Clemson loom.