4-star Myrtle Beach QB commits to Gamecocks
South Carolina’s football team is getting its first step on 2020 quarterback recruiting started early this year.
It began with a four-star prospect before his junior season.
Myrtle Beach dual-threat passer Luke Doty (6-foot-2, 190 pounds) committed to the Gamecocks on Tuesday. He split time between quarterback and wide receiver last season, but has a high athletic ceiling.
“The biggest thing for me was the importance of being an in-state guy and playing for the great state of South Carolina and being represented on that stage,” Doty said. “It’s close to home, and it’s a place where my family and friends can go to watch games and have a great time. South Carolina has always been high up on the list and they’ve always been like family to us. They’ve treated us so well throughout these past few years.”
Doty is the No. 305 player in his class in the 247Sports composite rankings. He’s the sixth-best dual-threat passer and sixth-best player in the state.
He visited Columbia earlier this week.
“He’s very dynamic with the ball in his hands,” Myrtle Beach coach Mickey Wilson said. “He’s a legit 4.4 kid as far as running the 40-yard dash. He’s super explosive. He’s really come into his own this year. He’s done a great job of watching film, studying the game and learning our offense inside and out. We’re just excited about getting him on the field and kind of turn him loose and let him make some plays for us.”
USC quarterbacks coach Dan Werner made Doty a high priority for the 2020 class. He made that clear to him in his conversations, and that was big in his decision-making process.
“He always told me, I’m his guy, that I’m number one and I’m a big priority for him,” Doty said. “For me, that means a lot, especially coming from him, and South Carolina being the big state school and home. We’ve developed a great relationship over the past few months and I’ve really gotten to know him and I look forward to continuing to develop that relationship with him.”
He will join an ever-improving quarterback room that will have Elite 11 quarterbacks Ryan Hilinski and Dakereon Joyner sitting at the table when he arrives.
“They’ve definitely got a great quarterback room,” he said. “I’ve been around those guys for a few years now. They are all just amazing guys and treat each like brothers. They push each other and pull for each other no matter what. That’s the kind of family atmosphere that I’m drawn to and that I love.”
As a sophomore, Doty passed for nearly 700 yards with five touchdowns and seven interceptions, rushed for 250 yards and one touchdown and caught 35 passes for 391 yards and five scores, as he split time between quarterback and receiver.
He has an impressive offer list that includes Auburn, N.C. State, Coastal Carolina, Virginia Tech, TCU, Duke, North Carolina, Ole Miss, Florida State, Miami and Baylor.
Doty has many months to sit on his commitment before he can sign and make it official. As for any further recruiting activity on his part, Doty said he’ll have none of that.
“I’m 110 percent committed to the University of South Carolina,” he said. “My recruitment is over. I won’t be making any more visits besides South Carolina. I know where I want to be, and that’s with the South Carolina Gamecock family.”
He’s the fourth commit and the fourth four-star in the 2020 class.
South Carolina 2020 recruiting class
These prospects are rising juniors.
▪ Luke Doty, QB; Myrtle Beach
▪ Mecose Todd, RB; Villa Rica, Ga.
▪ Issiah Walker, OL; Miami, Fla.
▪ Tyshawn Wannamaker, OL; Saint Matthews
This story was originally published July 31, 2018 at 6:02 PM.