Luke Doty remains on the front lines for the South Carolina Gamecocks, starting as a quarterback.
But there are only three practices. There is still a long time to go Jason Brown, Colten Gauthier or Connor Jordan to oust Doty, who started the final two games last season. Technician Shane Beamer told reporters on Thursday afternoon that Doty shared the representatives of the first team with the other three defenders so far this spring.
“Someone has to come better than Luke,” Beamer said. “If no one does, then Luke will continue to have (initial) reps with the first team. It’s certainly a competition, but those other guys have to make it a competition too. “
Offensive Coordinator Marcus Satterfield continues to supervise the rotation in the quarterback. And, to be clear, Beamer was adamant that there is some rotation between the four defenders.
“I think, mainly, we are competing every day,” said Beamer. “Luke started the first day with the first group. He’s the quarterback back. He’s the only one who really has experience here and that’s where we started. In each position, we are creating competition.
“I don’t want to say that Luke did all the repetitions of the first group. We have four guys competing there. … all those guys are there working and receiving representatives. “
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Doty is South Carolina’s most experienced returning quarterback. He completed 43 of 71 passes for 405 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions as a freshman in 2020.
“He’s doing a great job, every time he goes on the pitch, to be a leader and the mentality and understanding of the guys in the attack are looking at him now, because he’s the defender of that first group in the attack and he’s doing a great job of that, ”said Beamer. “You forget that he is a freshman and not older, due to the way he behaves and the respect he has for the team. It’s like he’s a veteran, which is proof of him.
“But we are trying to clean everything up. He did not have a full season as a defender last year. … He is still very young in office. But a great leader, a very good athlete, runs well, shoots well, I am really impressed with him and excited to continue watching his progression throughout the spring. “
Brown, a transfer from San Francisco, had to miss the first day of spring training due to illness. In 2019, his last season of action, he passed 3,084 yards with 28 touchdowns and six interceptions.
“It’s important to him,” said Beamer. “He’s here all the time. I seem to see him in the meeting room working and studying on his own. I think he did a good job of getting there and learning. He and EJ (Jenkins) pushed each other, coming here together and obviously they are extremely close, working with each other and pushing each other and he did a good job.
“The biggest thing with him is that they didn’t have a season last season and their season this spring at Saint Francis – they won’t play, so the most important thing with him is getting in shape, physically, and attacking the fourth weight, after being half out, for so long. It is probably more of a physical fit for him, but he is there working, trying to make everything work, mentally, working to improve as a defender every day. “
Beamer, Satterfield and the rest of the South Carolina offensive team will take everything into account, while continuing to assess which defender will open 2021 as a starter.
“Watching everything, evaluating everything, 1 to 1 with the receivers and defenders, 7 to 7 and all the team periods we do,” said Beamer. “I did a little two-minute practice in practice today too, so trying to evaluate everything. All these guys are doing a great job. At the moment, their heads are still spinning, because we are installing a new attack and they are thinking hard and trying to learn. .
“They all shone. All four guys are doing a good job. I am excited to see how they continue to progress, along with all the other positions in the remaining 12 practices. “