Shane Beamer explains what went into Spencer Rattler's decision to return

When the 2022 football season ended, South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer was not certain his quarterback Spencer Rattler would return for one last season in Columbia.

Fast forward to now and Rattler is joining Beamer at SEC Media Days, as the two are looking to keep the positive momentum from last season going into the upcoming season. And on ‘SEC This Morning’, Beamer pulled back the curtain on the process that lead to Rattler’s return.

“And when I told you guys immediately after the season that I didn’t know, I didn’t know,” Beamer said. “I mean those are the conversations that he and I had, and myself and his dad and his family also. We finished the regular season, we know we have a decision to make, he really was totally focused on the bowl game and trying to beat Notre Dame in that bowl game. We had conversations throughout the month off and on, his family and I and Spencer and I, and then once the bowl game finished I saw his mom and dad and his family as I was literally getting on the bus at the bowl game to go back to the hotel after the game.”

Rattler had just completed his fourth collegiate season, with one year of eligibility left and NFL aspirations looming. But after discussions with Beamer and his own family, he ultimately decided returning to South Carolina for one final season was the right move for him.

“We talked a little bit, had some conversations over the next week but Spencer’s a very mature guy. Very smart guy, unbelievable family, he was going to make the best decision for him and his future and his family,” Beamer said. “Absolutely glad that he decided to come back certainly, he’s a great guy, love being around him, makes our team better, makes our program better in coming back for another season. He’s still young, he’s played a lot of college football but he’s still a young guy and this is the best thing for his future also.”

Along with managing Rattler’s return, Beamer was also tasked with replacing offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield, who took the job as Nebraska‘s offensive coordinator following the 2022 season. And Beamer also opened up about how Rattler’s comeback had an impact on the offensive coordinator he’d eventually hire.

“And that was the other part of it too, Spencer’s making a decision on whether to come back while we’re in the process of hiring an offensive coordinator. So certainly I’m trying to make a hire when we hire Dowell Loggains I’m trying to do what I thought was best for our program long term, but I’d be an idiot if I didn’t consider what was best for Spencer Rattler and how well Spencer could potentially mesh with our new coordinator,” Beamer explained.

Loggains ultimately brought the combination of an NFL and collegiate coaching success that will set up Rattler for success in his final season in Columbia and beyond, and it will be interesting to see how he performs in his final season under a new OC.

“So certainly Dowell’s background in the NFL helps with Spencer, Dowell’s coached quarterbacks in the NFL his entire career, so that helps with Spencer also,” Beamer said. “But then what Dowell has been able to do at the University of Arkansas and being exposed to that offense along with his time in the NFL I think will really benefit Spencer in our offense, in general being able to mesh all that.”