Spencer Rattler came to the Oklahoma Sooners team as the class of 2019’s unanimous top quarterback after some stellar seasons at Pinnacle High School in Arizona.
He was also on the heels of back-to-back Heisman campaigns by Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray, so expectations were sky-high for the top QB recruit. However, just a few years later, Rattler is the starting quarterback for the South Carolina Gamecocks, aiming to get his 2024 NFL Draft prospects back on track. What happened?
Why Did Spencer Rattler Leave Oklahoma for South Carolina?
After spending the 2019 season redshirting while Jalen Hurts served as the starting quarterback for the Sooners, Rattler entered 2020 as the starting signal-caller.
With many fans frustrated by the lack of explosive passes under Hurts, Rattler’s incredible arm talent had many fans excited by his potential. Rattler enjoyed statistical success his first season as a Sooner, but the team suffered uncharacteristic losses to Kansas State and Iowa State, and Rattler’s frustrating turnovers helped contribute to those losses.
While the team rebounded to win the Big 12 that season over Iowa State, Rattler did not quite meet the expectations that had been set for him. That offseason, the Sooners landed another top quarterback prospect in Caleb Williams, who many expected to start the following season after Rattler had left for the NFL Draft.
However, during the spring game that season, Williams’ dual-threat ability and explosive arm talent showed out and caused him to quickly become a fan favorite, supplanting Rattler as the “big man on campus” in their eyes.
Rattler beat out Williams for the starting job that season and helped guide the Sooners to a 5-0 start. During their home game against West Virginia, fans in the stands began booing Rattler and chanting for Williams, beginning the process for Rattler’s departure.
Rattler’s turnover problems reared its head the following week against Texas, where he was benched for Williams in the second quarter. Williams then built one of the best comebacks in that long-held rivalry and ultimately held onto the starting job the following week. Rattler announced in November of that season that he would be leaving.
Head coach Lincoln Riley left in the middle of the night that December to take the USC job, but Rattler instead followed a different former coach away from Oklahoma.
Shane Beamer, the son of legendary coach Frank Beamer, had spent the 2018-2020 seasons at Oklahoma as the team’s assistant head coach before taking the head coaching job at South Carolina.
Rattler’s Scouting Report
Find out more about Rattler’s 2024 NFL Draft prospects in his full scouting report.
Strengths
- Quick release
- Easy velocity
- Velocity and general accuracy from compromised bases
- Can “snap” into sequencing when feet are out of sorts
- Generally accurate
- Quickness in initial pressure avoidance
- Easily generates velocity while throwing on the move
MORE: FREE Mock Draft Simulator With Trades
Weaknesses
- Excruciatingly late on most timing throws
- Not explosive enough to be a consistent run threat
- No plan vs. pressure except retreat
- Retreating nature negatively affects ball placement
- Poor RPO operation
- Lacks middle-of-field vision