Luke Doty excels in leadership role as USC’s backup QB
All eyes in Columbia are on former Heisman candidate Spencer Rattler, but there’s another quarterback on South Carolina’s depth chart proving his value.
Luke Doty, who started four games for USC last season, helped immerse Rattler into the offense upon his arrival in the spring. Rattler’s talent was apparent coming to South Carolina, but he still had questions about the playbook — questions that Doty could answer.
Doty has spent two years in South Carolina’s offense, collecting six starts in 14 career appearances. During practice and between reps, he helped give the Oklahoma transfer pointers about the system.
Though the two still compete against each other in practice, Doty has embraced his role of helping guide Rattler through preparations. It’s one of the ways he has established himself as a team leader as his junior year begins.
“Just have that constant dialogue with each other because I’m here to make him better, he’s here to make me better,” Doty said.
Rattler commended Doty for aiding him in his transition and for the atmosphere he fosters around the team.
“He’s like the perfect teammate,” Rattler said. “You see a great energy all the time, from the start to end of practice. He’s being himself, having fun. That’s what he’s about.”
Doty arrived at South Carolina in 2020 via Myrtle Beach High School, splitting time at both quarterback and wide receiver.
He entered his sophomore year projected as the team’s leading play-caller, but a foot injury sidelined him for the team’s first two games. He returned in USC’s game against Georgia after Zeb Noland was injured, then started in the following four games.
In the Gamecocks’ win against Vanderbilt, however, he re-injured his foot and then missed the remainder of the season.
Doty continued to make himself an asset during the rehab process.
During his time away, he focused on both his mental and physical health. He continually studied the offense to have an increased knowledge upon his return.
“So that, when I did come back, I was fully immersed in it,” Doty said. “I knew what was going on, regardless of whether or not I was on the field.”
Through it all, though, he remained connected with his teammates. He said he stayed engaged with the other players when he could.
“You gotta be happy with yourself, who you are, before you can ever do that for somebody else,” Doty said. “And putting effort into myself, I think, just gave me a greater sense of who I was and what I could bring to this team.”
Entering 2022, Doty said he feels “10 times better” than he felt entering last season after going through the recovery process.
But until his number is called on the field, he’ll continue to serve as a leader on the sidelines.
Wide receiver Dakereon Joyner, who arrived in 2018, said that Doty always demonstrated leadership qualities while at South Carolina. Like Rattler, he said Doty’s energy spreads throughout the team.
“That’s a core value for our team and our culture around here,” Joyner said. “But he’s a really good guy that everyone wants to be around, and I can’t wait to see how the year unfolds for him.”
Offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield took note of Doty’s mental prowess, saying that he can contribute once he returns to action.
Even behind the scenes, his knowledge of the system impacts the roster.
“Me coaching him, he can finish my sentences sometimes,” Satterfield said.
Rattler has been working with the first-team offense throughout the preseason, solidifying Doty as the team’s primary backup for now. He holds the most game experience among the team’s reserve quarterbacks.
Though it’s unclear how often Doty will see the field in 2022, his presence in the locker room and on the sidelines seems to be a role in which he’s well-suited.
“I’m excited to get back out there with my guys,” Doty said, “and have some fun with this thing. Because we work way too hard not to have fun with it.”
This story was originally published August 20, 2022 at 7:45 AM.
