Shane Beamer on impact of Spencer Rattler committing to South Carolina

South Carolina struck transfer portal gold earlier in the week, landing both quarterback Spencer Rattler and tight end Austin Stogner from Oklahoma. Adding Rattler, who entered this season as a Heisman favorite and a top NFL Draft prospect, is a big boost to a South Carolina quarterback room that has seen struggles over the last couple of seasons.

At the end of National Signing Day on Wednesday, head coach Beamer spoke to reporters about the impact of adding Rattler and Stogner on South Carolina’s program.

“Yeah I think it’s a lot of it,” Beamer said of the hype and momentum Rattler brings to South Carolina’s recruiting class. “I think for one, it’s a great statement nationally about this program and the way that young men view it. The fact that Spencer and Austin, they could have gone anywhere in the country. I mean Austin was on a visit to Ohio State last weekend, he was at Iowa State before that. Spencer I’m sure could have chosen his school, and they chose to come to South Carolina.

“And you better have more than just a relationship with the head coach to choose a school. They better believe they want to win and they have to believe that you can win at the highest level here and they do. So to me, regardless of their names and where they’re coming from, it’s a great statement about how they view our program.”

Rattler looking to solidify South Carolina’s quarterback room

No quarterback on South Carolina’s roster threw for 1,000 yards this season. Luke Doty, Jason Brown and Zeb Noland all saw snaps at quarterback with all three attempting at least 89 passes. Brown has since entered the transfer portal.

Rattler threw for 1,483 yards while completing 74.9% of his passes this season. He had 11 touchdowns and five interceptions along with three rushing touchdowns. Rattler was benched in favor of true freshman Caleb Williams, and with Williams playing well after taking over, Rattler entered the portal. Stogner caught 14 passes for 166 yards and three touchdowns this season.

By joining South Carolina, Rattler is in a prime position to rebuild his NFL Draft stock. He now has to face off against SEC competition, but a strong year could do wonders not only for Rattler, but South Carolina as well. His addition has already made impacts on the Gamecocks program.

“As soon as they announced the other night, my phone is blowing up with younger class of 2023 recruits that we’ll be talking about a year from now, texting me about the buzz and the excitement that they generated as well. So I think it’s just we were certainly trending the other night to say the least,” Beamer said. “Appreciate those guys and their belief in us and I know Austin and Spencer, they’re eager to get in here and compete. Nothing’s going to be handed to them to get in here and compete with the rest of the team.

“Any success we had this season was because of the way that we came together as a group. The way we came together as a team. The only way we’re going to have success when Spencer and Austin and anybody else that we may add to this program from the transfer portal going forward is going to take place. That success is coming in here and coming together as a team, which is what those guys are going to do as soon as they get here.”

South Carolina went 6-6 this year in Beamer’s first season as a head coach. The Gamecocks take on North Carolina on Dec. 30 in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl.