Spencer Rattler assesses spring game, chemistry with teammates

South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler made his debut in Columbia on Saturday evening at the Gamecocks’ annual spring game. The Oklahoma transfer finished the contest 8-for-10 passing for 79 yards, while also running the ball twice for 12 yards.

With his day done late in the fourth quarter, Rattler joined SEC Network’s Ryan McGee for an interview on the sidelines. Asked to assess his performance for the day, he said he was pleased with what he did in the little time he saw.

“I had a good few drives getting the flow down and getting the chemistry with my guys,” the quarterback said. “We’ve got a lot of work to do, but I thought we did some good things. Like you said, I’m excited watching these other guys get in and make big-time plays.”

Rattler took a couple of deep shots in the game, connecting with Xavier Legette for 30 yards in the first quarter. Perhaps his best highlight of the day came in the second quarter with a defender chasing him down on third-and-18. Rattler managed to get rid of the ball on the run for a 16-yard gain to Antwane Wells Jr. that set up fourth and short. In the interview with McGee, Rattler said he has had no issues developing chemistry with his teammates since arriving this offseason.

“It’s going great,” he said. “They accepted all of us transfers and we’ve just played really well with everybody.”

A former five-star recruit and the No. 1 quarterback in the 2019 class according to On3 Consensus, Rattler played under current Gamecocks coach Shane Beamer for two seasons with the Sooners in 2019 and 2020. After helping lead OU to a Big 12 Championship and Cotton Bowl victory in 2020, he returned to lead the offense in 2021 with Beamer departing to South Carolina for his first head coaching job. Although Rattler began the season as a Heisman candidate, he struggled to start the year and was eventually benched in place of true freshman Caleb Williams.

After coach Lincoln Riley left Oklahoma for USC this offseason, Rattler decided to reunite with Beamer at South Carolina. He is joined by Sooners tight end transfer Austin Stogner, who was not available Saturday. But if the spring game is any indication, Spencer Rattler will shake off the struggles from last year and return with the potential to be one of the best quarterbacks in the SEC this season.

The quarterback will make his official debut when South Carolina opens up the 2022 season against Georgia State on Sept. 3.