South Carolina quarterback Luke Doty has once again been recognized for his impact well beyond the football field. The Myrtle Beach native is among 67 student-athletes nationwide that have been nominated for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award, an honor that highlights courage, integrity, and leadership.
Doty's résumé is packed with both academic and athletic achievements. A 6-foot-2, 215-pound veteran for the Gamecocks, he already holds two degrees from the University of South Carolina and has been named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll five times. He was also inducted into the 2025 Hampshire Honor Society and has represented South Carolina through the SEC Leadership Council and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Earlier this fall, Doty was also selected as a semifinalist for the Campbell Trophy, one of college football's most prestigious academic awards.
The Jason Witten Award, presented by Albertsons and Tom Thumb, is unique in that it focuses solely on leadership. The award carries a $10,000 donation in the winner's name to their school's athletic scholarship fund, made by the SCORE Foundation, Witten's longtime charitable initiative.
“These student-athletes have all demonstrated exceptional leadership, often in the face of adversity, and are perfect examples of what the sport of college football is all about” Witten said. Leadership has long been tied to Jason Witten's name. Not only was he one of the most productive tight ends in NFL history, but he also stood out as a respected role model across the sport during his 16-year career.
The field of 67 nominees will be narrowed to 20 semifinalists on October 14. From there, three finalists will be named on Dec. 15, with the overall winner honored at a ceremony in Frisco, Texas, on April 16, 2026.
Past recipients include some of the sport's most respected leaders, such as Shaquem Griffin (UCF), Sam Ehlinger (Texas), and Kentucky's J.J. Weaver, who took home last year's award.
Doty now has the opportunity to add his name to that same legacy, further cementing his reputation as one of South Carolina's most accomplished ambassadors on and off the field.