Freshman QB Luke Doty impresses early. ‘I’ve been very pleased,’ Bobo says
It’s early in the career of South Carolina quarterback Luke Doty — five practices early.
But it didn’t take long for the freshman out of Myrtle Beach to catch the attention of his new position coach, Mike Bobo, and not just for his skill slinging the ball.
“I’ve been really pleased with Luke,” Bobo said. “Him and MarShawn (Lloyd) probably fall in the same category being very conscientious, want to learn, want to put themselves in a position to compete.”
At the moment, Doty is battling the 2019 starter in Ryan Hilinski and fellow backup Jay Urich, who bounced between quarterback and wide receiver last year. The spring is mostly a prelude, as Bobo’s former quarterback at Colorado State, Collin Hill, is on the roster as a grad transfer but rehabbing from a torn ACL.
So Doty is getting his first college work and learning from a coach who came in a full year and a half after he committed to USC
And despite his designation as a “dual-threat” guy, he’s shown a skill Bobo places the highest emphasis on.
“Luke has been accurate,” Bobo said. “Two days ago at practice, he was 11 out of 11 at practice, which was awesome. Hit every target. He made some nice throws today and completed some balls on third down. He’s pulled the ball down a couple times when everybody’s been covered, and, you know, had explosive runs.”
Bobo said no matter what offense a team runs, outside maybe a triple option scheme, that QB accuracy has to be there.
Doty completed 64% of his passes last season at Myrtle Beach High and better than 70% the year before. His junior year was a masterpiece, with him throwing for 3,037 yards, 36 touchdowns and six interceptions, while running for 701 yards and seven scores at the helm of a state title team.
He lost his top four receivers as a senior but still threw for 1,874 yards, 25 touchdowns and six interceptions in just more than nine games. He had the Seahawks undefeated and No. 1 in their class before a hand injury in the playoff opener ended his year. (His team rallied to make it to the state finals and he was named Mr. Football.)
He was the No. 85 recruit in the country in the 247Sports Composite rankings and a four-star prospect.
Doty brings a certain level of balance that makes him unique among the QBs the Gamecocks have. Hilinski probably has a stronger arm and Urich can move around well, but Doty can blend that mobility and accuracy. And he boasts something else that has his coach excited.
“His willingness to learn and master the offense is gonna give him a chance to get to be really, really good,” Bobo said. “He has a skill set that other guys don’t have.”
