Spencer Rattler shares excitement over Austin Stogner connection

There might be some new faces on South Carolina‘s offense this season, but the offseason additions also brought some familiarity into the fold. Quarterback Spencer Rattler and tight end Austin Stogner were teammates at Oklahoma from 2019 through 2021, and both entered the transfer portal and came to the Gamecocks after last season.

That connection has been a solid one thus far at South Carolina. After defeating Texas A&M on Saturday, Rattler opened up on his comfort throwing the ball to Stogner and praised him for making plays whenever the ball is thrown his way.

“Yeah he had a few good catches tonight, I think three or four,” Rattler said of Stogner after South Carolina’s victory. “I told him I was going to get him the rock tonight. Any matchup he was one-on-one I was gonna put it up to him. That’s nothing new for him. I love throwing to him. Obviously guys on the team want him to touch the ball because every time he gets the ball thrown to him he’s going to make a play. Especially that back shoulder catch on the one-on-one going in to set up that first score for Marshawn [Lloyd]. That was a big throw and catch right there.”

CLICK HERE to subscribe for FREE to the On3 YouTube channel

Rattler, Stogner have had a connection for many years

Both Rattler and Stogner were highly touted recruits when they began their respective careers at Oklahoma in 2019. Rattler was rated as a five-star recruit and the top quarterback in the 2019 cycle, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. Stogner was a four-star recruit and the No. 3 tight end in the same class.

In the win over Texas A&M on Saturday, the passing offense struggled at times. Rattler completed 12 of his 25 pass attempts with 168 yards. Three of those completions were to Stogner, who finished the day with 46 yards. And as Rattler mentioned, his plays were big ones.

On the season, Stogner has 13 receptions for 140 yards and one touchdown. Rattler has completed 63.6% of his passes for 1,466 yards, five touchdowns and eight interceptions.

Even though the passing game is still finding its groove, having an already built-in familiarity between Rattler and Stogner brings great value. And the Gamecocks hope to continue reaping the benefits of that throughout the remainder of the season.

South Carolina joined the AP Top 25 this week, coming in at No. 25. The Gamecocks host Missouri on Saturday in Week 9.