South Carolina QB Spencer Rattler has overcome adversity to become an NFL prospect. Let’s look back at Rattler’s footballing career and review his path to the 2024 NFL Draft.
Where Did Spencer Rattler’s Football Career Start?
Rattler attended Pinnacle High School in Phoenix, Arizona. During his four years there, he threw for 11,083 yards and 116 touchdowns. He also ran for 1,040 yards and 14 more scores on the ground.
During his senior year, Rattler was one of several QBs to star in the documentary series “QB1: Beyond the Lights.”
Rattler’s adversity began early in his football career. He was suspended in the middle of his senior season for the violation of a district code of conduct. It was later revealed this was the consequence of cheating at school.
Nevertheless, Rattler was a highly sought-after recruit. As the No. 1 QB in the recruiting class, a five-star recruit, he received 14 Division I offers, with every single one of them from major programs. After the conclusion of his high school career, Rattler committed to Oklahoma.
Revisiting Rattler’s College Career
Oklahoma
Although he was considered the best freshman QB recruit in the nation, Rattler barely played in his first year at Oklahoma. When he arrived, there was already an incumbent by the name of Jalen Hurts — perhaps you’ve heard of him. Rattler appeared in just three games total, redshirting the year.
In his sophomore year (redshirt freshman), Rattler won the starting job over Tanner Mordecai. He started 11 games, throwing for 3,031 yards, 28 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He also ran for 60 yards and six scores.
After leading Oklahoma to a Big 12 championship, Rattler entered his junior year (redshirt sophomore) in 2021 as the Heisman favorite. Rather than compete for college football‘s most prestigious individual award, adversity struck again.
Despite being undefeated at the time, Rattler was benched in the first half of Oklahoma’s Week 6 game against Texas. Caleb Williams would start the remainder of the season.
Just like that, Rattler went from possibly winning the Heisman to not playing football. Unsurprisingly, he chose to leave Oklahoma after his junior year was complete.
South Carolina
In 2022, as a senior (redshirt junior), Rattler transferred to South Carolina. He started 13 games, throwing for 3,026 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions.
While he did finish the season strong with wins over Tennessee and Clemson, Rattler’s performance did not resemble that of a guy who was favored to win the Heisman the previous year. As a result, he chose to return to South Carolina for a fifth season.
Spencer Rattler 🎯 to Josh Vann 🔥
— College Football Network (@CFN365) November 20, 2022
As a redshirt senior, Rattler performed much better. He completed 68.9% of his throws for 3,186 yards and 19 touchdowns with eight interceptions in 12 games.
Rather than opting to exercise his final year of eligibility granted due to the pandemic year, Rattler declared for the 2024 NFL Draft.
Rattler’s Potential in the NFL
It’s been a tough journey for Rattler, who was considered a shoo-in to be a first-round pick as recently as two years ago. Now, Pro Football Network draft analyst Ian Cummings sees him as a Day 3 pick and more of a project than a likely NFL starter.
“Rattler grades out as an early Day 3 prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft, but he could feasibly rise into Day 2 range with a good offseason,” Cummings notes. “He profiles as a developmental QB with backup utility early in his career, but Rattler has the physical tools to potentially grow into a starter.”
MORE: Ian Cummings’ Full Scouting Report of Spencer Rattler
Cummings further highlights the issues in Rattler’s game but does see the potential that the rest of the country once saw.
“Ultimately, the only thing keeping Rattler from locking in early-round capital is a lack of elite operational consistency. His situational precision can improve at times. His pocket habits can be unpredictable, and he’ll sometimes force poor decisions under pressure.
“Nevertheless, Rattler is a very capable creator with the arm talent to elongate throwing windows and drive passes to places that only his WR can reach. By all accounts, he’s matured over the course of his football career, and his growth in 2023 does bring some optimism.
“In the meantime, Rattler has value as a quality backup with the physical traits and operational floor to withstand adversity and command an offense in spurts. If he can compound his growth from 2023 in the years to come, Rattler has the tools to develop into an NFL starter.”
The overwhelming majority of starting NFL quarterbacks come from the first round of the draft. Given that Rattler was once believed to have first-round talent, it wouldn’t be a shock if things turn around and he winds up being one of the outliers from the later rounds. It’s still unlikely, but if anyone can do it, it’s Rattler.
Rattler’s Highlights, Records, and More
In Rattler’s first year as a starter at Oklahoma, he earned first-team All-Big 12 honors. He was also the 2020 Big 12 Championship MVP.
Interestingly, Rattler’s best individual game came during his worst season. At the end of the 2022 season, his six touchdown passes against Tennessee broke a South Carolina record. His subsequent victory over Clemson made him the first QB in school history to defeat top-10 ranked teams in consecutive weeks.
KEEP READING: Top Quarterbacks in the 2024 NFL Draft
Rattler earned an invite to the 2024 Senior Bowl and won MVP. It was a solid cap to his collegiate career and certainly didn’t hurt his NFL Draft stock.
Draft with your friends today! PFN’s Mock Draft Simulator now supports multiple drafters during the same draft! Find out how the PFN Scouting Department ranks this year’s prospects with our 2024 NFL Draft Big Board and follow along throughout the draft with our NFL team needs tracker.
