South Carolina football: five players looking to make a jump in 2021

2. Luke Doty

Doty started the final two games of South Carolina’s season in 2020, completing 43 passes for 405 yards and two scores. The dual threat signal caller also rushed for 91 yards, and is looking to improve upon the mistakes made in that true freshman season.

Shane Beamer has already given his quarterback a stamp of approval, naming Doty the team’s QB1 following the Spring. The Gamecocks will need the sophomore to make a huge jump from year one to year two, but if he’s able to grasp the new playbook, the team could have something going on offense.

South Carolina boasts one of the conference’s top backfields, with Kevin Harris, MarShawn Lloyd, and ZaQuandre White rotating at the running back position. If Doty can pick up the passing game, the Gamecocks could surprise some folks in 2021.

3. ZaQuandre White

Speaking of White, he’s another Gamecock looking to make a jump in his second season with the team. The tailback arrived on campus as one of the top JUCO recruits in the nation. He flashed a bit in his first year in Columbia, but had trouble with ball security and slid down the depth chart. He was then switched over to the defensive side of the ball to add depth to a depleted secondary that saw a number of players opt out of the last three games.

Now, he’s back on offense, and is looking to improve upon the 59-yard total he posted on the ground last year. He’s already making an impact on the new coaching staff, and could find himself being used both as a runner and pass catcher.

With Kevin Harris and MarShawn Lloyd recovering from injuries over the Spring, White found himself receiving most of the first-team reps. He parlayed that into a 95-yard performance at the Gamecocks’ annual Garnet and Black Game, and should see much more action in 2021. Coaches are excited about White’s abilities with the ball in his hands. He’ll be a key contributor in his senior year.