Jordan Burch gives hilarious first practice story on Spencer Rattler

Spencer Rattler is looking to make an instant impact at South Carolina. It sounds like he already is — just ask Jordan Burch.

Burch has a different perspective on Rattler’s abilities, coming at him from the defensive side of the ball. In fact, Rattler’s first practice was an eye-opener for Burch, who saw first-hand how talented the former Oklahoma star quarterback is.

“My first practice rushing against Spencer, he rolled out and threw a sidearm,” Burch said. “I’m like, ‘I haven’t seen this in a while.’ I was like, ‘Oh my gosh.’ … I’ve been getting after him, but he still completes the pass. He’s pretty good. And it’s good having him around. I like what he’s brought to the table.”

Having a quarterback of Rattler’s caliber can have quite an impact on the defense, too. After all, he’s a former five-star recruit and a preseason pick to make a run at the Heisman Trophy last season. That’s not easy to go against in practice, and Burch — a former Five Star Plus+ recruit — knows it.

“Getting off the edge and knowing that the quarterback’s going to step up and complete a pass, if you don’t hurry up and do a pass rush move or get your hands in the passing lane, that’s something that’s pretty good [about] having him around,” Burch said. “He’s changed a lot. You’ve got to take a different approach when going against him and the offensive line.”

Spencer Rattler reveals what he’s enjoyed most about being at South Carolina

South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler has been open about his transfer from Oklahoma recently, even calling it a “toxic situation.” Rattler has said playing for Shane Beamer is an opportunity he needed for his career after how the 2021 season transpired in Norman.

When asked what he’s enjoyed the most about South Carolina thus far, Rattler was extremely complimentary of the fan base. The Gamecocks’ spring game was last weekend, and Rattler got to play in front of Williams-Brice Stadium for the first time. Rattler said if the fans have the team’s back, they will “feel invincible” throughout the year.

“Just the overall vibe,” Rattler said. “Like I said the other day, this city, this town — you can feel the excitement for this team and the love for this team. That’s big-time for us. When our fans got our back, we feel invincible. Like I said, great turnout tonight, and made me even happier. Knowing I made the right decision with how loyal these fans are and how happy they were to see us play today.”