Feb 1, 2024; Mobile, AL, USA; American quarterback Spencer Rattler of South Carolina (2) throws the ball during practice for the American team at Hancock Whitney Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports
The 2024 Senior Bowl that was covered in person by JetNation featured seven quarterbacks across five different conferences this draft cycle. One quarterback in particular looked to have a strong week in Mobile to help silence his doubters after and up and down few years. That quarterback being South Carolina’s Spencer Rattler.
How did Rattler respond? First by being named the top quarterback of the week on the American squad (as voted on by opposing defenders), but also being name the game’s most valuable player. Fair to say it was mission accomplished for the signal caller.
Rattler was the “starter” for the American Team in Saturday’s 75th Senior Bowl, and he got into a quick rhythm, completing all four of his passes for 65 yards, including a deep pass down the left sideline to Georgia’s Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint for a 29-yard touchdown. He looked impressive with his timing and decision-making after a practice week in which every passer had their share of miscues.
JetNation spoke with one unnamed scout after the game who said he believes Rattler is liked far more in league scouting circles than he is by pundits and the public.
There’s no shortages of storylines surrounding the former Oklahoma quarterback. Rattler has been scrutinized for his conduct on the Netflix series QB1: Beyond the Lights. Rattler was labeled a bad teammate, and many began to question whether or not his character was a fit for the NFL.
Since that time, the QB underwent a five year maturation process filled with adversity at the collegiate level. In three seasons with the Sooners under head coach Lincoln Riley, Rattler threw for 4,595 yards and completed just over 70% of his passes with a TD:INT ratio of 40:12.
After nine games in 2021, Rattler was benched in favor of freshman Caleb Williams, which led to the decision to transfer prior to the 2022 season. In a report from Sports Illustrated’s Madison Williams, Rattler called Oklahoma a “toxic situation”, but was happy to land with Shane Beamer in South Carolina.
Asked why he chose to transfer to South Carolina, Rattler said he was “blown away, and knowing Coach Beamer from when he was an assistant at Oklahoma and the way he rides with his players, I knew I could trust him”.
After two seasons of being the full time starter for the Gamecocks, Rattler amassed over 6,200 yards and 37 touchdowns in 25 games.
Now Rattler enters his name into the 2024 NFL draft pool, and the range of outcomes for the undersized (6001/219) signal caller is quite large. There are those down in Mobile who believe he has a shot at being the fourth quarterback off the board. Others still view him as a developmental player on Day 3.
While he may have entered the week with concerns, it appears Rattler has made the most of his opportunity and is trending in the right direction in the eye’s of the league’s decision-makers. The next step will be for him to have strong testing in Indianapolis at the Combine, but interviews will be crucial for Rattler.
If he continues to impress, both on and off the field, his draft stock can rise as high as the first round.
He will be an interesting story to follow throughout this cycle as we approach the 2024 NFL Draft with continued coverage from JetNation.