Spencer Rattler offers first look at how he can elevate South Carolina in 2022
Spencer Rattler dipped to his left, cocked his arm and fired a strike toward the back left pylon. There, South Carolina tight end Jaheim Bell snagged the rifle of a pass for a touchdown.
Never mind the Gamecocks defense was on another field and the route was run on air. The throw earned a collection of “oohs” and “aahs” from the reporters gathered along the back of the end one.
“Today was primarily like a red zone-type day for us. We didn’t do a whole lot of open-field stuff,” head coach Shane Beamer explained. “That’s tough for a quarterback, because you’re on the 15-yard line going in. It’s very limited what you could do throwing the football. But mechanically and just being able to run the offense, I thought (Rattler) had a great first day.”
South Carolina opened spring practice Tuesday, offering the first look — albeit in limited spells — at the ballyhooed former Oklahoma quarterback expected to raise the ceiling for the Gamecocks in 2022.
Rattler comes to South Carolina as one of the more sought-after transfers in recent memory. He spurned offers from just about every school in the country to play for Beamer and offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield.
Reporters were only able to view the first six periods of practice on Tuesday. During that span, Rattler ran through red zone work — connecting early and often with Bell — in addition to a handful of individual drills and practice with ball security.
The sample size was small. Really, it’s hard to glean too much from 20 minutes of practice in shorts and T-shirts. But there were visible signs of what Rattler can bring to the South Carolina offense this fall.
Rattler’s passes zipped with forceful speed and torque. His spirals were tight. His accuracy was pinpoint.
It’s not that backups Luke Doty — who entered 2021 as the presumed starter before a foot injury sidetracked his season — Colten Gauthier or Braden Davis can’t mimic that eventually. Right now, though, it’s the elite passing ability Rattler has been lauded for that stands out.
“Spencer’s probably got the best arm talent I’ve ever seen,” former Sooners linebacker Nik Bonitto said at the NFL Scouting Combine earlier this month. “He’s a guy that’s going to compete every day. He’s going to work his butt off.”
The Gamecocks ranked 13th in the Southeastern Conference in passing last fall. Having to start four different players under center played a piece in that, as did an offensive line that, per Pro Football Focus, rated worst in the league in pass blocking efficiency during the regular season.
The hope is Rattler can alter that trajectory.
The former Sooners signal-caller completed more than 70% of his passes during his OU career. He also threw nearly four touchdowns for every one interception and compiled over 4,500 yards through the air in 23 games.
Beamer has praised Rattler for his work in the offseason. He’s integrated himself quickly with teammates and has balanced that process with the natural leadership role required of a Power Five starting quarterback.
Rattler has been maligned for perceived attitude problems in high school and at Oklahoma. So far, so good at South Carolina.
Beamer has sung his praises. So, too, have assistant coaches. It’s all been a welcome change from the mass hysteria and criticism the former faced during his up-and-down time at Oklahoma.
“I feel totally refreshed to be at a new university, a great university like this,” Rattler said two weeks ago during his first press conference since arriving at South Carolina. “I feel very comfortable here. I made a great decision and I’m happy I’m in this position.”
“It’s not easy walking into an SEC football program in January and getting acclimated, but he’s done a great job” Beamer added Tuesday. “Spencer is a great young man. He’s really come in and just been himself, worked really, really hard and the guys around him respect that.”
There is still plenty for Rattler to learn over the course of the spring and into the summer, Beamer noted. He pointed to South Carolina’s propensity to run plays from under center as compared with Oklahoma, where Rattler rarely huddled and signaled plays from the shotgun.
Those adjustments will come in time. Some level of adversity, whether that’s an interception, loss or something else, will follow at some point, too.
But Tuesday was about seeing what’s been echoed all offseason: Rattler can change the ceiling on South Carolina’s season.
It’s too early to truly judge that, but Day One was a start.
This story was originally published March 15, 2022 at 3:52 PM.
