Why Dowell Loggains considers Luke Doty one of his favorite players — ever
Dowell Loggains has been on the South Carolina coaching staff for less than nine months. It’s no secret who is one of his favorite players.
The Gamecocks’ new offensive coordinator sang the praises of veteran backup quarterback Luke Doty while speaking at his weekly press conference Wednesday. Loggains talked about the selfless nature of Doty and the respect he commands on the team
Dowell said Doty just “has it” as far as his personality and what it takes to be a great teammate.
Dowell singled out how Doty stood up and spoke recently before the USC freshman and newcomers performed their annual talent show. Doty told his veteran teammates to let the new guys finish performing each skit before they get heckled, booed or have pieces of paper thrown at them in jest.
“Luke Doty is the one who stood up and told them to act right. That’s who Luke is and why I have such a respect for Luke,” Loggains said. “... He is one of my favorite players on this team and one of my favorite players I have ever coached because of what he values, the teammate he is.”
Doty is a redshirt junior with two years of college eligibility left after this season. He has stuck around USC through highs and lows and after the Gamecocks brought in Spencer Rattler to be the team’s starting quarterback. Coach Shane Beamer on Tuesday said Doty is penciled as the backup behind Rattler, but that might not be the only role he has for the Gamecocks.
Doty has played some at receiver in 2020, and TheBigSpur reported earlier this month that he has taken reps at the position in camp. The former Myrtle Beach High standout has also played on special teams, and Loggains and the rest of the USC coaches plan to use him as much as they can this season.
“He is a valuable football player that can help us in other rooms than just quarterback, and he has done that in the past,” Loggains “In the bowl game, he played on special teams, played on punt pressure and kickoff returns. He has done some other things that way.
“It would be foolish for us to have a player like that myself and Coach Beamer believe in standing next to us on the sidelines. Is he a guy that can have a role in different areas? Absolutely.”
This story was originally published August 23, 2023 at 2:42 PM.
