Quarterback Spencer Rattler entered college as a five-star recruit in the 2019 class, rated as the best pro-style passer and one of the best prospects in the nation. Despite an up-and-down college career, it appears Rattler may be drafted pretty high in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Rattler, 6-foot-1, earned massive hype coming out of Phoenix, Arizona. With offers from Alabama, Notre Dame, Miami and others, Rattler committed to Lincoln Riely and the Oklahoma Sooners in 2018. After playing in three games as a freshman, he broke out in 2021 (28-7 TD-INT, 172.6 QB rating) and was viewed as one of the best, young quarterbacks in college football.
- Spencer Rattler stats 2023: 3,186 passing yards, 19-8 TD-INT, 68.9% completion rate, 147.7 QB rating, 8.0 yards per attempt, 66.0 ESPN QBR (45th)
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However, Riley benched Rattler in favor of quarterback Caleb Wiliams early in the 2021 season against the Texas Longhorns. Rattler never regained the starting job and transferred to the University of South Carolina months later.
In two seasons as the Gamecocks’, quarterback, Rattler posted a 143.2 QB rating with a 37-20 TD-INT ratio and a 67.5 percent completion rate in 25 games. Despite only showing flashes of NFL-caliber talent, it seems teams at the next level are quite high on the young quarterback.
Ahead of the 2024 Senior Bowl, executive director Jim Nagy told Ari Meirov of the 33rd Team that Rattler has a legitimate chance to be selected on the second day of the 2024 NFL Draft. Importantly, Rattler will be one of the top quarterbacks taking part in the Reese’s Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama.
“I think he could go on Day 2. Second, third round, just depends on how the whole thing plays out. I think the interview process will be big for Spencer…I think Spencer Rattler ends up somewhere on Day 2
Jim Nagy on South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler
- Spencer Rattler career stats: 10,807 passing yards, 77 passing touchdowns, 152.2 QB rating, 8.2 yards per attempt, 68.5% completion rate, 32 interceptions
While making the media rounds ahead of the Senior Bowl, Nagy also told The Athletic Football Show that NFL teams are higher on Rattler than many in the media.
“The NFL is really fired up to see Spencer down here (at the senior bowl). He did a lot of good things at South Carolina this year movement wise that again, kind of a byproduct of some protection issues…. Not to throw anyone under the bus but he had to move more than he has in the past and he showed he can do it”
Reese’s Senior Bowl exec Jim Nagy on how NFL teams view Spencer Rattler
Furthermore, ESPN’s draft analyst Jordan Reid predicted Rattler as one of the players who will most improve their 2024 NFL Draft stock at the Senior Bowl and the 2024 NFL Combine.
Rattler never regained the dominance he displayed at Oklahoma in 2020, but NFL teams are evidently still high on his raw talent. However, clubs will have to keep in mind that Rattler posted a 1-4 TD-INT ratio with a 63.5 percent completion rate against ranked opponents this past season and he threw 7 interceptions against ranked opponents in 2022.