Zeb Noland to start second consecutive game for South Carolina

Zeb Noland will make his second consecutive start at quarterback for South Carolina on Saturday against East Carolina. While the Gamecocks originally hoped that presumed starter Luke Doty would be able to return from his foot injury he suffered during preseason camp, that will be put on hold at least for another week. It was reported on ESPN’s College GameDay that Noland was set to start again for South Carolina.

The Gamecocks won 46-0 over Eastern Illinois on opening weekend. East Carolina is 0-1 after a loss to Appalachian State.

Noland started South Carolina’s opener just weeks after being a grad assistant

Last season, Noland played at North Dakota State after three seasons at Iowa State. He was expected to serve as Trey Lance’s backup, but when the FCS season was pushed to the spring, Lance opted out to prepare for the NFL Draft. Noland stepped into the starting job and threw for 721 yards, five touchdowns, and six interceptions in the spring season.

In South Carolina’s victory over Eastern Illinois, Noland played well and threw four first half touchdowns. Overall, Noland was 13 of 22 for 121 yards and the four scores. Noland played well in his improbable return to the field for the Gamecocks.

“It was good, poise and collected,” South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer said of Noland’s performance in his postgame press conference. “We need to be better as an offense, being efficient. We did a nice job for the most part, but we have a lot of plays out there that we didn’t get lined up quite the right way or motion was off. Things like that, that we need to clean up.

“But overall, Zeb did a nice job of running the offense and made some throws, ad-libbed on some plays in the first half. Being able to get to second reads and making things right when it wasn’t quite right. I thought he did a nice job.”

Beamer had hoped that Doty would return for Saturday’s game at East Carolina

Earlier in the week, Beamer said that he hoped that Doty would return against East Carolina. Doty came into the season as the presumed starting quarterback, and the intention is for him to return to the starting lineup when he is able to do so at full health.

“We expect Luke to be at full speed by the end of the week,” Beamer said of Doty’s status earlier in the week.