South Carolina football: 5 breakout players underutilized by Will Muschamp
By Jacob Elsey
South Carolina football failed to produce on the football field during the Will Muschamp era, with the team winning just six games over the head coach’s final two seasons. Despite posting top 25 recruiting classes for the majority of Muschamp’s time in Columbia, the Gamecocks finished in the bottom of the SEC East for most of his tenure.
Poor on-field results led to Muschamp’s firing, and the ensuing hire of new headman Shane Beamer. Beamer brings with him a new staff, a new scheme, and a new sense of life for the South Carolina football program. While the fans are certainly happy for this refreshing and upbeat new leadership, there are also some returning players that are excited to perform in a new setting.
Which players will thrive in the Gamecocks’ new scheme after being underutilized by the previous staff? Let’s start with the man under center.
QB Luke Doty
Doty was just a freshman last season, but it was clear that the Gamecocks needed to find a new option at quarterback about halfway through the year. Rather than move on from Collin Hill, the coaching staff refused to make a change, resulting in a long losing streak that would extend to six games by year’s end.
The only game that South Carolina had a chance to win late in the year was against Missouri where Doty replaced a struggling Hill to nearly lead the Gamecocks to a second-half comeback victory.
Doty came to South Carolina as a four-star player and one of the better quarterback prospects in his respective class. He’s now earned the starting job under Shane Beamer and seems poised to expand upon the limited experience gained as a freshman. Expect Doty to see much better results with his new coaching staff.