Spencer Rattler expresses awe at South Carolina atmosphere, fans at spring game

South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler was treated to a taste of what game day in Gamecock country looks and feels like as he took the field for his first public showcase in garnet and black Saturday afternoon.

“It was really fun getting out there, I mean what a great turnout with the fans,” Rattler said. “That was an environment I’ve never seen in a spring game before, so it was a lot of fun getting out there, throwing it around a little bit, getting a couple of runs and guys look good.”

The Oklahoma transfer finished the spring contest 8-for-10 passing for 79 yards, while also running the ball twice for 12 yards. After the game, Rattler said he felt he played well but feels he could improve his chemistry with some of his receivers on the field, but off — he couldn’t feel more at home.

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 evade pressure on the run for a 16-yard gain to Antwane Wells Jr., which set up fourth and short.

“It was like non-stop,” Rattler said. “You look left and right, fans everywhere. I’ve never seen anything like that. And then coach [Marcus] Satterfield said, ‘look at that, times that by five or 50.’ That’s gonna that’s what it’s going to be later in the season, so I can only imagine what it’s going to be like [on game day].”

Rattler, a former five-star recruit and the No. 1 quarterback in the 2019 class according to On3 Consensus, played under current Gamecocks coach Shane Beamer for two seasons with the Sooners in 2019 and 2020. After helping lead the Sooners to a Big 12 Championship and Cotton Bowl victory in 2020, Rattler 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 where he would ultimately end up back with Beamer in Columbia and just through 15 practice, it seems to be a perfect match.

The next time Rattler will be in action with the Gamecocks and make his official debut will be when South Carolina opens up the 2022 season against Georgia State in the first weekend of September.