2024 Exclusive Sneak Peek: Spencer Rattler, QB South Carolina
Welcome to the Exclusive Sneak Peek: Spencer Rattler was a 5-star prospect coming out of Pinnacle High School in Phoenix, AZ. Throughout his high school career, he threw for over 11,000 yards. This created hype for him as one of the top prospects. He originally committed to Oklahoma in June of 2017.
He only saw action in 3 games his freshman year. This allowed him to redshirt his freshman season. However, he broke out in his second year. In 2020, he threw for 3,031 yards and 28 touchdowns through 11 games!
The third season at Oklahoma was not as fruitful for him. He struggled at the beginning of the season. Through the first 6 weeks, he threw 5 interceptions. This led to a coach’s decision to bench him in week 6 against Texas. The upside was that he saw a 7% increase in completion percentage.
In need of a fresh start, he would transfer to South Carolina in 2022. As the starting quarterback, he got back to throwing for over 3,000 yards through 13 games. However, this did include his 246 yards against Notre Dame in the Taxslayer Gator Bowl. His turnovers were still an issue. In 2022, he threw a career-high 12 interceptions.
Year two with South Carolina allowed him to find a better rhythm. He saw an increase in completion percentage, passing yards, and touchdowns. This was all with receiving a career-high in sacks. Forty times the defense would get to Rattler in 2023. His second year at Oklahoma would remain his best throughout his college career.
Measurables
NCAA Statistics
| Passing | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | School | Conf | Class | Pos | G | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Y/A | AY/A | TD | Int | Rate |
| *2019 | Oklahoma | Big 12 | FR | QB | 3 | 7 | 11 | 63.6 | 81 | 7.4 | 9.2 | 1 | 0 | 155.5 |
| *2020 | Oklahoma | Big 12 | FR | QB | 11 | 214 | 317 | 67.5 | 3031 | 9.6 | 10.3 | 28 | 7 | 172.6 |
| *2021 | Oklahoma | Big 12 | SO | QB | 9 | 140 | 187 | 74.9 | 1483 | 7.9 | 7.9 | 11 | 5 | 155.5 |
| *2022 | South Carolina | SEC | JR | 13 | 264 | 399 | 66.2 | 3026 | 7.6 | 7.1 | 18 | 12 | 138.7 | |
| 2023 | South Carolina | SEC | SR | QB | 12 | 275 | 399 | 68.9 | 3186 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 19 | 8 | 147.7 |
| Career | Overall | 900 | 1313 | 68.5 | 10807 | 8.2 | 8.3 | 77 | 32 | 152.2 | ||||
| Oklahoma | 361 | 515 | 70.1 | 4595 | 8.9 | 9.4 | 40 | 12 | 166.0 | |||||
| South Carolina | 539 | 798 | 67.5 | 6212 | 7.8 | 7.6 | 37 | 20 | 143.2 | |||||
Scouting Reports
Strengths
- Talented prospect with great arm strength to make all the NFL throws.
- Pocket awareness allows him to escape the pressure yet still make throws with precision.
- Playmaker. Does have the mobility to make the play on the run. Also shows great focus in a protected pocket to go through his reads efficiently.
- Shows zip behind his passes for short and intermediate throws.
- Has the arm strength to his receivers deep or lead them down the field.
- Natural athleticism with light feet and the ability to throw from different angles.
- Quick release. He gets the ball out of his hands rapidly with precision.
Weaknesses
- Struggles when the pocket collapses. He can get the ball out under pressure, but at times throws it up relying on his arm strength causing incompletions or interceptions.
- Even with his experience, his decision-making is still in question. Tends to try to be the hero when it is not needed.
- Relies on his footwork when he should rely on his arm. Relies on his arm when he should rely on his footwork to get the extra yardage.
- Has trouble reading defenses at times. Effective defenses that cloud their coverage well will be a struggle for him.
- His best year was 4 years ago. He never got back to that 4:1 TD: INT ratio which could raise some concerns. Has he already been figured out?
Pre-Draft Analysis
Expected Draft Capital: Round 3
Ideal Landing Spot: New York Jets
Rattler raised his draft stock with an impressive senior bowl. He is not a first-round prospect. Although, he might have been once upon a time. At best he moved himself into day 2 possibly round 3 of the 2024 draft. The Jets do not have a 2nd round pick. At least, not right now. But they do have a 3rd round pick.
The question marks behind Rattler leave many, including myself, to believe that he will be a backup. At least in year one. Possibly for his career. He might start a season or two with efficiency. But nothing flashy. However, if he gets a year behind arguably the best quarterback to ever play the game then what happens? Those question marks may be erased. Assuming he takes a pencil and paper to learn from an elite quarterback. A quarterback like Aaron Rodgers.
Post-Draft Analysis
Pick 5.150 to the New Orleans Saints
Rattler
Check out The Fantasy Football Universe video breakdown of Spencer Rattler below.
