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COLUMBIA, S.C. – In lower than two weeks, Zeb Noland has gone of from serving to South Carolina gamers put together for the season to being named the Gamecocks beginning quarterback.
In an odd twist, the one-time crew grad assistant will begin the yr as South Carolina’s QB in opposition to Jap Illinois on Saturday evening.
Noland wasn’t even a part of the combination earlier this month till anticipated starter Luke Doty suffered a mid-foot sprain and the Gamecocks had nobody within the quarterback room who had taken snaps in a serious faculty soccer sport.
That’s, till Noland gave up his spot on employees to place the pads again on.
“Is it just a little bit distinctive? Sure,” South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer mentioned Tuesday. “However keep in mind he performed in a sport just a few months in the past.”
That’s not one thing you hear on a regular basis from a coach within the SEC.
Noland’s final sport motion was at North Dakota State the place Noland began seven video games within the spring season and led the crew with 740 yards of complete offense. He may’ve remained with the Bison, however gave up his eligibility to affix Beamer’s first yr program.
In a numbers crunch because of Doty’s damage two weeks in the past, Beamer seemed to Noland to fill in. Proper from the beginning, Beamer mentioned, Noland gave the offense a snap that was lacking in exercises – and the coach and Noland’s teammates say it has continued.
“You possibly can inform he is aware of his stuff,” Gamecocks receiver Jalen Brooks mentioned. “It’s been very spectacular.”
Noland, a 6-foot-2, 232-pound participant from Watkinsville, Georgia, started his faculty profession at Iowa State, the place he threw for 1,255 yards and 6 touchdowns as a reserve earlier than transferring to North Dakota State.
Noland labored alongside San Francisco 49ers first-round draft decide Trey Lance with the Bison and assumed the beginning position when Lance opted out of the crew’s spring season.
Noland joined the Gamecocks employees in June and labored at placing collectively sport plans amongst different issues. Brooks recalled how he’d keep after exercises to do additional drills with Doty whereas Noland would oversee and assistance on throws. That, vast receiver mentioned, gave him an on-field reference to Noland that has gotten higher the previous two weeks.
“I already received a head begin” on bonding with the brand new quarterback, Brooks defined.
When Noland took the sector at South Carolina, Beamer noticed a sophisticated, environment friendly participant who received the crew out and in of its schemes rapidly and with the demeanor of a frontrunner.
Beamer mentioned Noland’s first observe interval throughout which he confronted solely blitzes was probably the most spectacular efficiency by any group in camp.
Noland additionally has expertise taking part in in a Energy 5 convention.
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell texted with Noland when he was heading to affix Beamer’s employees and Campbell thought it was an ideal alternative for Noland to begin a training profession. Noland is all the time ready for the scenario, Campbell mentioned.
“I feel it is smart that that this chance got here his method and he was in a position to capitalize on it,” Campbell mentioned.
It’s the second straight season South Carolina has opened the season with a grad switch as beginning quarterback. A yr in the past, it was fifth-year senior Collin Hill from Colorado State who started the season.
Hill lasted till coach Will Muschamp‘s dismissal in mid-November when interim coach Mike Bobo had Doty begin the ultimate two video games in South Carolina’s 2-8 season.
Beamer advised Noland and St. Francis (PA) switch Jason Brown, who have been vying to exchange Doty, concerning the determination Monday.
Brown was disillusioned he misplaced out, however mentioned he’ll keep prepared and help Noland.
“I really like Zeb and I hope he does one of the best,” Brown mentioned.
Beamer advised Brown that he’d see motion Saturday in opposition to Jap Illinois as effectively.
Doty’s restoration from his foot damage is progressing effectively, Beamer mentioned, and he could also be able to go when South Carolina performs at East Carolina on Sept. 11.
Doty is sporting tennis sneakers at observe and not wants a strolling boot, a delicate solid or a scooter to get round as he recovers.
Beamer was requested twice if Doty, a sophomore who can run in addition to go, would regain the beginning spot as soon as wholesome or would he should compete with Noland for the job. Beamer, teaching his first sport as a university head coach this week, wouldn’t chunk.
“That’s for one more time,” Beamer mentioned. “We concentrating absolutely on Jap Illinois.”
South Carolina names former grad assistant its beginning QB initially appeared on NBCSports.com
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