Underappreciated Gamecock QBs? #1: Dondrial Pinkins

[18IsTheMan]

For my money, Dondrial Pinkins tops the list. I think he'd tear it up in today's offensive game. Can't really see an argument against it. Dude had some crazy wheels and a cannon of an arm with an incredible touch on deep balls. Threw TD passes of 99 and 98 yards in one season. Dropped a 77 yard bomb on LSU (Matthew Thomas, receiver). He, unfortunately, had to play in Skip Holtz's offense, which was not designed to maximized Pinkins abilities.

As QB in 2003, he led us to a 5-7 record, which doesn't sound all that great, until you consider we lost by a combined 8 points @ UT, @ Ole Miss and vs UF. All ranked in the top 15. Flip those wins and we're looking at a top 25 team and one of the top Gamecock teams of all time. We played musical QBs for some reason in 2004, playing I think 4 or 5 QBs, but he dang near singlehandedly willed us to win against Bama (yeah, I know, but for us a win over Bama is still a win over Bama). He was a warrior that game. We popped to a 4-1 start before losing another heartbreaker to Ole Miss with Newton and Mitchell at QB. We'd have won that with Pinkins back there and everyone knew it. He took us toe-to-toe with UT later that season and had a game for the ages, going 30/42 for 2 TD and 2 INT. Game was tied 8-8 at halftime, but the D collapsed in the 2nd half and we lost 43-29, wasting one of the all-time performances, considering the competition we were facing. Also ran for 46 yards on 10 carries in that game. With Pinkins at QB in 2004, we are probably looking at back-to-back 8-win campaigns if you count those close losses from 2003.

He was a real wasted talent and deserved much better.

 

[Gamecock Jacque]

For my money, Dondrial Pinkins tops the list. I think he'd tear it up in today's offensive game. Can't really see an argument against it. Dude had some crazy wheels and a cannon of an arm with an incredible touch on deep balls. Threw TD passes of 99 and 98 yards in one season. Dropped a 77 yard bomb on LSU (Matthew Thomas, receiver). He, unfortunately, had to play in Skip Holtz's offense, which was not designed to maximized Pinkins abilities.

As QB in 2003, he led us to a 5-7 record, which doesn't sound all that great, until you consider we lost by a combined 8 points @ UT, @ Ole Miss and vs UF. All ranked in the top 15. Flip those wins and we're looking at a top 25 team and one of the top Gamecock teams of all time. We played musical QBs for some reason in 2004, playing I think 4 or 5 QBs, but he dang near singlehandedly willed us to win against Bama (yeah, I know, but for us a win over Bama is still a win over Bama). He was a warrior that game. We popped to a 4-1 start before losing another heartbreaker to Ole Miss with Newton and Mitchell at QB. We'd have won that with Pinkins back there and everyone knew it. He took us toe-to-toe with UT later that season and had a game for the ages, going 30/42 for 2 TD and 2 INT. Game was tied 8-8 at halftime, but the D collapsed in the 2nd half andecte we lost 43-29, wasting one of the all-time performances, considering the competition we were facing. Also ran for 46 yards on 10 carries in that game. With Pinkins at QB in 2004, we are probably looking at back-to-back 8-win campaigns if you count those close losses from 2003.

He was a real wasted talent and deserved much better.

If I remember correctly, we went 5-7 largely because of Pinkins. I was there for the 99 yard touchdown, against Virginia. Tried to find a video but I recall the pass as going maybe 10 yards or so. Maybe less. I think the receiver was either Rice or Williamson.

 

[18IsTheMan]

If I remember correctly, we went 5-7 largely because of Pinkins. I was there for the 99 yard touchdown, against Virginia. Tried to find a video but I recall the pass as going maybe 10 yards or so. Maybe less. I think the receiver was either Rice or Williamson.

Nah, nah, nah, nah. Revisionist history. How's it on the QB when you lose 43-40 @ Ole Miss?

 

[Johnny She Said]

Pinkins wouldn't hold the football with fingers on the laces.
Oh and if you're counting close losses you also should consider the close wins.

 

[18IsTheMan]

Pinkins wouldn't hold the football with fingers on the laces.
Oh and if you're counting close losses you also should consider the close wins.

Why?

 

[Hoganman1]

I’m going way back but Jeff Grantz was one of my favorite Gamecock QB. I think he was underrated.

 

[Johnny She Said]

Why?

He grew up not knowing what the laces were for. So he just learned to throw the football holding it wherever. the sideline reporters did a couple of little reports about how he would throw the football without fingers across the laces
I always thought his passes look like wounded ducks. very rare for spiral.

 

[PrestonyteParrot]

Mike Hold

 

[Gamecock Jacque]

After the "fade" game where Petty got hurt we played at Alabama. Pinkins was horrible and we fell behind. A hurt Petty was put in the game the 2nd half and we almost came back. I remember thinking that he played looking like he could have started. Another possible win against Alabama wasted by a putrid QB.

 

[Gamecock Jacque]

Mike Hold

I thought he was pretty well rated, especially for his arm. He would come in as a change of pace and immediately throw a good looking long ball. To me the other quarterback, Allen Mitchell was the underrated one. He ran that veer offense better in my opinion. I was saddened to hear about his suicide.

 

[kidrobinski]

If I remember correctly, we went 5-7 largely because of Pinkins. I was there for the 99 yard touchdown, against Virginia. Tried to find a video but I recall the pass as going maybe 10 yards or so. Maybe less. I think the receiver was either Rice or Williamson.

Troy Williamson on a quick slant.

 

[18IsTheMan]

Pinkins would be a first round draft pick if he played in today's college game.

 

[Uscg1984]

Pinkins would be a first round draft pick if he played in today's college game.

 

[18IsTheMan]

Pinkins was a fish out of water. His skill set was advanced beyond the game at the time, particularly playing for an old school type like Holtz. You put him in a system like Heupel's today and....oh boy.

 

[PrestonyteParrot]

I thought he was pretty well rated, especially for his arm. He would come in as a change of pace and immediately throw a good looking long ball. To me the other quarterback, Allen Mitchell was the underrated one. He ran that veer offense better in my opinion. I was saddened to hear about his suicide.

Agree that he was well thought of during his playing time, but he is not generally mentioned when Gamecock QB discussions come up.
I remember the win under the dome at ND and he had the QB scramble which was an instrumental part of an overall great game where he led us to victory.

 

[Irvin Snibbley]

Blake Michell.If Spurrier would have handled him differently I think he could have an all time great at Carolina.

 

[Gamecock Jacque]

Pinkins would be a first round draft pick if he played in today's college game.

That's what is really called revisionist history.

 

[18IsTheMan]

That's what is really called revisionist history.

Not actually. One can easily how his skill set would have translated to a dominant QB in today's game when QBs are coddled and protected. Not gonna say he would have won the Heisman, but I think there would have been discussions at the very least.