Spencer Rattler explains decision to play in Gator Bowl

Following their regular season finale, South Carolina had a few players enter the transfer portal, but none have declared for the NFL Draft so far. One of those players is quarterback Spencer Rattler, who has decided to play in the team’s Gator Bowl matchup versus Notre Dame for a particularly special reason.

“It was important for me because coach Beamer’s been great to me all year,” Rattler said. “For him even bringing me here was a blessing, so the least I can do is play in the bowl game. So I had to do it for him, the coaching staff, and obviously the player’s as well.”

Rattler transferred from Oklahoma to South Carolina this offseason and in his first season with Beamer and the Gamecocks helped lead them to their best record since 2017. He threw for 2,780 yards and 16 touchdown passes this season, but will be missing some of his weapons in the Gator Bowl. South Carolina’s leading rusher Marshawn Lloyd, tight ends Jaheim Bell and Austin Stogner, and wide receiver Corey Rucker have all left the program via the transfer portal. But Rattler is still confident in his team and what they’ll be capable of in their season finale.

“All we’ve got is all we need and we’ve got some young guys that are hungry to make plays, we’ve got guys that are experienced here that wanted to finish this thing out right so we’re excited about the opportunity, it’s a big bowl game and we’re gonna go make South Carolina proud,” Rattler said.

Rattler also touched on the impact the South Carolina fan base and their importance in his decision to not only play in their bowl game, but to join the team in the first place this offseason.

“These fans are great, they’ve been great all season and obviously they’re a main reason why I’m here so like I said, we’re gonna bring some excitement for this bowl game, I know the fans will be there traveling deep and we’re gonna put on a show for them,” Rattler said. “And then after that a lot of guys got decisions to make, but we’re excited for this bowl game, that’s the focus right now.”

Rattler and other Gamecocks will definitely have various paths they can go down between training for the NFL, returning back to Columbia, or even entering their names in the transfer portal, but for not their full focus is on their date with the Fighting Irish on December 30 airing on ESPN at 3:30 p.m. ET.