Former Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler officially a Gamecock
It’s official. Spencer Rattler is a Gamecock.
The Oklahoma transfer signed his financial aid agreement Tuesday, a day after announcing his commitment to the Gamecocks. Transfers don’t sign letters of intent but instead financial aid agreements with the school. The first day of the early signing period begins Wednesday.
Minutes after the school announced Rattler’s signing, the Gamecocks announced the signing of Austin Stogner, Rattler’s teammate at Oklahoma. Stogner also announced Monday he would be coming to USC and play for Shane Beamer, who was on Oklahoma’s staff before becoming the Gamecocks coach a year ago.
“Gamecock Nation, let’s give an OFFICIAL welcome to @SpencerRattler! ... Gamecock Nation! It’s time to OFFICIALLY welcome @austin_stogner!” the South Carolina football Twitter page posted in back-to-back posts on Twitter.
Rattler,. the former five-star recruit, was among the preseason favorites for the Heisman Trophy after a freshman season in which he completed 214 of 317 passes for 3,031 yards, 28 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Despite the preseason hype, Rattler struggled to match the overwhelming expectations as the heir to Kyler Murray’s throne in Norman. He finished the year connecting on 74.9% of his passes for 1,483 yards, 11 touchdowns, but was supplanted as the starter by five-star recruit Caleb Williams during Oklahoma’s come-from-behind win over Texas.
Rattler threw just 12 passes over the final month-plus of the season and he announced his intentions to transfer from Oklahoma in late November.
Rattler has a connection with South Carolina coach Shane Beamer, who was an assistant at Oklahoma before becoming Gamecocks new coach.
The addition of Rattler and Stogner, gives Shane Beamer’s recruiting a huge boost going to the beginning of the early signing period which runs through Friday. The class is ranked 16th nationally as of Monday.
“I think it was a big move,” SEC Network personality Paul Finebaum said Tuesday in response to a caller asking his thoughts on Rattler to the Gamecocks. “I don’t know what Spencer Rattler is going to look like. I know what he was, and four months ago, he was the top player in college football coming into the season. It went badly for him.
“That doesn’t mean it will go badly for him now. But I think for South Carolina, considering their quarterback woes, it’s a big shot in the arm to get someone of his ability and hope that he fits well into South Carolina’s approach.”
With Rattler in the fold, it gives the Gamecocks five quarterbacks on the roster with the others Luke Doty, Jason Brown, Colten Gauthier and Jake Helfrich. Braden Davis, of Middletown High in Delaware, will make it six when he signs his letter of intent on Wednesday. Davis, the 2021 Delaware Gatorade Player of the Year, will enroll in January.
This story was originally published December 14, 2021 at 6:21 PM.
