Spencer Rattler ready to take advantage of spotlight at Senior Bowl
South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler throws a pass downfield during Senior Bowl practice Wednesday January 31, 2024 at Hancock Whitney Stadium. (Lynn Harrington/stayaliveinpower5)
MOBILE, Ala. — Everything appears to be coming full circle for the former South Carolina quarterback as he approaches the Senior Bowl Saturday.
After all, Spencer Rattler’s journey up to this point is noteworthy, considering he played at a high level in the Big 12 and the SEC. He was able to gain a lot of his football knowledge from Lincoln Riley during his time at Oklahoma. Shane Beamer, who’s the son of a Hall of Fame coach, has history with Rattler as a Sooner and a Gamecock.
Which is why the gunslinger is using what he learned from those two coaches, and is putting his best foot forward against the best of the best. After three scrimmages, Rattler is holding his own, and is no stranger to the competition or the spotlight. Digesting an NFL playbook can be challenging, but the signal-caller knows how to adjust on the fly.
“I can handle anything that they throw at me, a guy that’s been in two of the best conferences in College Football, in three different systems, and have seen a lot and feel like I’m improving,” Rattler said. “So I just want to show who I am, how I am as a player out on the field, and show my knowledge of the game as well.”
Rattler had his best season as a Oklahoma student-athlete in 2020, when he led the program to a Big 12 Title. The knock on Rattler is his pattern of inconsistency though. The following season Caleb Williams beat him out for the starting job, and Rattler transferred to South Carolina.
He threw for 6,212 yards, 37 touchdowns and 20 interceptions over the last two seasons with the Gamecocks. Rattler also led South Carolina to victories over Clemson and Tennessee in 2022. Although the Gamecock fans expected more out of him, Rattler his proud of what he accomplished, and learned in Dowell Loggains’ scheme. The Phoenix native believes it’s all going to benefit him in Saturday’s event, and he’s looking forward to showing the NFL scouts his worth.
“Being in that environment, being in the SEC, having both coaches with Coach Beamer and Coach Loggains, playing in a pro-style system, has made me ahead of the curve coming into this game,” he said. “So I feel very comfortable, but I’m still learning a lot, and it’s been an awesome environment.”
Rattler battled it out with Tennessee’s Joe Milton, Tulane’s Michael Pratt and South Alabama’s Carter Bradley throughout the week. From footwork, to accuracy and reading the different coverages on defense will be vital for Rattler to leave a lasting impression on the NFL scouts. The six-foot, 219-pounder wants to continue to improve while navigating through his path to the NFL Draft, and is taking nothing for granted.
“Just never getting complacent with anything, I always can get better at film study, I can always tighten my pocket movement, decision-making and everything,” the 23-year old said. “I feel like I’ve taken major strides over the last few years, and I’m happy with where I’m at.”
At the end of the day, Rattler is determined to make a statement and represent the Gamecocks in a positive way. He’s not worried about the pressure and is preparing to enjoy himself.
