South Carolina: Shane Beamer announces starting QB vs. Kentucky

The South Carolina quarterback carousel has been in full-swing for Shane Beamer as the Gamecocks’ first-year head coach.

Beamer met with the media ahead of Saturday’s SEC test vs. Kentucky and didn’t waste any time announcing a starter at quarterback for the game.

“Shane Beamer announces QB Luke Doty will start for the Kentucky game,” Mike Bratton tweeted.

Doty was far from perfect in the Gamecocks’ 40-13 blowout loss to Georgia on Saturday. He finished the night 13-of-26 for 153 yards, a touchdown and an interception

But for a quarterback who has missed most of the first month of the season and has been sidelined with a sprained foot since mid-August, there were bits and pieces to like in Doty’s return to action.

“I got a lot of things to work on,” Doty said after the Georgia game. “Getting that first little bit of game action against them, it was unbelievable. Hats off to them, they have a great defense and they’re going to have a great season. It’s only one game; we’re going to put this one behind us, move forward and keep a positive about everything and just move forward. We have a helluva team; helluva defense, helluva offense. Special teams. All around. We all believe in each other, so we’re just going to keep pushing forward.”

With Zeb Noland sidelined due to injury, it appears that Doty is the Gamecocks’ next man up, for now at least.

The South Carolina head coach called Doty a “warrior” when referring to coming off the bench to find success against arguably the top defense in the nation vs. Georgia.

“Luke feels great,” Beamer said. “What a warrior that kid is, to come out and do what he did with very limited practice, he is a warrior. Bounced right back and was at practice Sunday night. Did everything today.”

One interesting and somewhat unexpected note is Beamer’s comment on Noland in terms of his availability for Saturday’s Kentucky game.

“We expect him to be ready to go on Saturday,” Beamer said. “He didn’t throw today; he’s still got some stitches in his finger from where he got stepped on that they’ll get out here in the next day or so and once those come out, he’ll be able to throw, so fully expect him to be available.”

South Carolina is primed for an upset win at some point in 2021. Gamecocks’ fans will hope Doty can deliver against a talented Kentucky squad.