Spencer Rattler explains how strong finish in 2022 has impacted South Carolina's mindset

You can’t touch momentum, but you can feel it. Perhaps no player felt momentum more intimately last season than South Carolina QB Spencer Rattler.

After beginning last season 5-3, mediocrity looked like the Gamecocks’ most likely outcome. However, something happened in November. The South Carolina team that looked like an average SEC squad turned into a juggernaut, begging opponents to overlook them.

Fortunately for South Carolina, a few teams did. The Gamecocks didn’t let the opportunity go to waste. Rattler and the Gamecocks finished the regular season with wins over No. 5 Tennessee and No. 7 Clemson.

On Thursday, the redshirt senior reflected on the rollercoaster season.

“From November on, everything started to click. We got our full confidence,” Rattler told On3’s Andy Staples. “We all know if you ride that momentum and continue to work and stay consistent. You can’t expect everything to happen, but you got to work towards it. And you know, we’re just stacking on these days.”

Although South Carolina’s hot streak ended in a grueling 45-38 loss to Notre Dame in the Gator Bowl, the season was a success, especially for Rattler. In his first campaign with the Gamecocks, Rattler completed 264-of-399 passes (66.2%) for 4,026 yards with 18 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

Expectations are even higher for Rattler this season. The 22-year-old quarterback isn’t afraid of the lofty goals. In fact, they’re the reason he came back.

“I just think I definitely weighed the options out. There were more pros with coming back, obviously,” Rattler said. “I graduate in December, so I’ll get my degree. That’s something that’ll mean a lot to me and my family. So that was one.

“And I feel like we left a little on the table the year before. So I’ve got a lot more to prove,” said Rattler. “I think that’s why me and Juice Wells came back. We feel like we’ve got something to prove. That’s what we’re trying to do this year as a group,” Rattler said at SEC Media Days.

Gamecocks head coach Shane Beamer couldn’t be happier to return his star QB.

“Absolutely glad that he decided to come back. He’s a great guy, love being around him. (He) 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,” Beamer said.

Watch Rattler attempt to use the momentum from last season as South Carolina opens its 2023 campaign against North Carolina on Sept. 2.