Spencer Rattler entered the 2021 college football season atop the Heisman Watch list, with many confident he would thrive in his second season under Oklahoma Sooners coach Lincoln Riley. Fast forward to December, both are leaving the prestigious football program.
Things got off to a rocky start for the sophomore quarterback. In a season-opening win against Tulane, Rattler threw for 304 yards but also recorded two interceptions. He rebounded against Western Carolina, throwing five touchdowns, but his level of play dropped off after that.
Between bad decision-making, mechanical issues and a struggling Sooners’ offense, change became necessary. Trailing big against Texas, Rattler was pulled after an interception and freshman Caleb Williams took over. It would be Rattler’s last start for Oklahoma.
- Spencer Rattler stats (2021): 1,483 passing yards, 74.9% completion rate, 11-5 TD-INT ratio, 155.5 passer rating, 3 rushing touchdowns
With his days as the Sooners’ quarterback over and his name officially in the transfer portal, let’s examine the best Spencer Rattler landing spots.
Spencer Mattler transfer to Ole Miss
Any time a top quarterback hits the transfer portal, the Ole Miss Rebels needs to be considered. Lane Kiffin’s offense didn’t put up eye-popping passing stats this year, ranking 21st in pass yards per game (280.8) and 52nd in attempts per game (32.3). But Mississippi ranked 18th in passer rating (153.7), 15th in yards per attempt (8.7) and this team averaged 34.3 points per contest.
Look at what Kiffin did for Matt Corral. The junior quarterback completed just 59% of his attempts with a 131.0 passer rating and 7.7 yards per attempt in 2019 under Matt Luke. He saw his completion rate (70.9%), passer rating (177.6) and ypa (10.2) all spike under Kiffin in 2020. As a Heisman candidate this season, Corral recorded 31 total touchdowns and saw his interceptions totals drop from 14 to 4.
This could be a great spot for Rattler. Playing against SEC competition will be challenging, but putting up great stats in the best conference in college football will catch the NFL’s attention. Ole Miss is competing for a spot in the playoffs and Kiffin just helped Corral draw consideration to be the top pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. The Rebels need to be an option.
Arizona offers homecoming opportunity
If Spencer Rattler wants to go to a place where he’ll be comfortable, a return home must be under consideration. He grew up in Arizona, starring at Pinnacle High School and becoming one of the most accomplished high school quarterbacks in state history. With Arizona Stadium just a two-hour drive away from his home, the Wildcats could be an appealing landing spot.
- Spencer Rattler high school stats (2015-’18): 11,083 passing yards, 14.5 ypa, 116 pass TDs, 111.8 QB rating, 1,040 rushing yards
But becoming the star of the Wildcats’ football team is about more than just a homecoming. Jedd Fisch, Arizona’s head coach, offers a resume that would greatly benefit Rattler. Fisch worked with Sean McVay (Los Angeles Rams, 2018-’19) and Bill Belichick (New England Patriots’ quarterbacks’ coach in 2019). Belichick, the greatest coach in NFL history, called Fisch one of the best coaches he ever worked with.
Years of working with NFL quarterbacks and calling plays at both the professional and collegiate levels are incredibly valuable. Arizona has won five combined games in the past three seasons, so there wouldn’t be high expectations. If Rattler is comfortable returning home, Arizona is a strong choice.
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SMU Mustangs land new quarterback
While the SMU Mustangs might have lost Sony Dykes, the decision to bring in Rhett Lashlee could pay off nicely. Lashlee, age 38, spent the 2021 season calling plays for the Miami Hurricanes and working with their quarterbacks. Miami averaged 34.1 points per game and boasted one of the best passing offenses in college football, averaging 321.2 yards per game (10th in FBS).
What makes Lashlee’s work so impressive is it largely came with a freshman quarterback. Tyler Van Dyke, a four-star recruit in the 2020 class, took over for D’Eriq King on Sept. 25. The freshman posted a stellar 160.1 passer rating with a 25-6 TD-INT ratio and racked up 2,931 passing yards. He looked even more comfortable as the season went on, averaging 373.8 passing yards in his last five starts.
There is an appeal to playing at a Group of 5 program. Tanner Mordecai, a former Sooners’ quarterback, arrived at SMU in 2021 and threw for 3,628 yards with 41 total touchdowns and a 158.0 passer rating. While the offenses might be different under a new coach, this is an environment where Rattler can thrive.
Tennessee Volunteers land Spencer Rattler
Whether or not the Tennessee Volunteers become a potential transfer destination depends on the status of quarterback Hendon Hooker. If the 23-year-old declares for the NFL Draft, it creates an opening for an offense that flew under the radar in 2021. If he returns, Rattler should view it as a missed opportunity.
One of the underrated storylines from college football this season is Hooker. The former Virginia Tech quarterback transferred to Tennessee and opened the year as a backup. But when opportunity knocked, he stepped into the lineup and thrived. After combing for 2,894 passing yards with a 22-8 TD-INT ratio with a 73.1% completion rate in two seasons with the Hokies, Hooker took off at Tennessee.
- Hendon Hooker stats (2021): 2,567 passing yards, 26-3 TD-INT ratio, 69% completion rate, 561 rushing yards, 5 TDs
It’s a credit to the senior quarterback and head coach Josh Heupel, who transformed Tennessee’s offense in his first year. In 2020, the Volunteers ranked 108th in points per game (21.5), 105th in points per play (0.312), 83rd in passing yards per game (204.7), 67th in yards per attempt (7.2). Fast forward to 2021 with Heupel and Hooker, this offense ranked 11th in scoring (37.3 ppg), 12th in points per play (.508), 48th in passing (250 ypg) and 8th in yards per attempt (9.1).
Tennessee isn’t a popular team right now and this program has a long way to go before being nationally relevant. But if there is an opening at quarterback, Rattler’s talent in the system could be monumental for both the player and program.