The NFL Draft is almost here. We take a look at South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler, an escape artist with a very accurate arm.
Rattler was thrust into the spotlight before ever stepping on a college football field. He was considered the unanimous No. 1 quarterback in the 2019 recruiting class and appeared in Season 3 of “QB1” on Netflix show. Rattler would commit (and sign) to Oklahoma and spend three seasons there. He was the starter for the first five games of the season in 2021 before being benched for inevitable 2024 No. 1 pick Caleb Williams. Following the season, he would take his talents to South Carolina and play out his final two college seasons.
In his five-year career, Rattler tallied 10,807 passing yards with a 68.5 percent completion rate. He also threw for 77 touchdowns and 32 interceptions. Rattler used his legs to find the end zone 16 times in his career. He earned National Freshman of the Year (CBS Sports), Freshman All-American (FWAA), and First-Team All-Big 12 during the 2020 season.
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Spencer Rattler, South Carolina, Quarterback
Name: Spencer Rattler
Jersey: No. 7
Position: Quarterback
School: South Carolina
Class: Redshirt Senior
Height: 6-foot-0
Weight: 211 lbs.
Hand Size: 9 7/8”
40-Yard Dash: 4.95
Spencer Rattler’s Strengths
Rattler’s defining trait is his ball placement. He always puts the ball where it needs to be. This allows for YAC opportunities and fewer chances for defenders to get their hands on the ball. He can make his layups in the quick game while also possessing excellent deep-ball accuracy. He combines this with NFL-level arm talent. Rattler can make any throw on the field and shows some impressive hits on far-hash-go balls. He can drop it in the bucket down the field. He also can change arm angles and layer the ball over second-level defenders.
Rattler can escape pressure and get himself into unnecessary trouble at times, but if the offensive line lets him down, he has the short-area movement skills to create out of structure. When scrambling, he keeps his eyes downfield with the intent to throw. He was bad about taking sacks and trying to do too much at times at Oklahoma, but he has gradually learned when to eat it and throw the ball away.
Rattler has shown an occasional ability to process full-field reads, albeit at an inconsistent rate. He can find his check-down option when everything is covered.
Spencer Rattler’s Weaknesses
Rattler can play from within the pocket, but he often makes life harder for himself. He consistently leaves clean pockets to try to play hero ball. He doesn’t possess the burst or speed needed on designed runs or explosive scrambles. He tends to drift back and fade away when dealing with pressure. This hinders his ball velocity. At times, he also tries to escape through a muddy area of the line, but this gets him into trouble. Occasionally, he struggles with his internal clock and will feel backside pressure too late. Rattler will sometimes force the ball to covered receivers. He lacks anticipation over the middle of the field and is frequently late to his throw.
Draft Projection: Early Day 3 Pick
Rattler possesses an NFL arm, great play out of structure, and elite accuracy. His problem is showcasing this consistently. He makes some excellent throws and can keep the ball moving in the short to intermediate game. Problems come when Rattler is unable to stay within himself. He tends to go off the rails trying to force things and make the hero play. He has shown improvement in that aspect, but he is not there yet. NFL teams will not take kindly to his erratic pocket behavior and questionable decisions.
Ultimately, Rattler can be a capable backup with the ability to develop and get an opportunity later. He might get a team through a few games in the case of an injured starter.
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