Spencer Rattler having fun being a 'point guard' in South Carolina's offense

South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler was balling Saturday night against Mississippi State in the team’s 37-30 victory in Columbia, S.C. He was 18 of 20 for 288 passing yards with three touchdowns along with 83 rushing yards.

It has been a mixed start to the season for the Gamecocks but if Saturday is any indication, Rattler is starting to get really comfortable in the offense led by offensive coordinator Dowell Loggain.

“Tonight was very balanced, very efficient in the pass game,” Rattler said after the game. “Aggressive in the run game. Credit to the o-line, they gave me time. I caused a few sacks just trying to get up in the hole and run. But they did a great job for most of the night. When you can run the ball, it’s easier to throw the ball. The offense Dowell has, just run-and-gun, spread it out, kind of let me be a point guard out there is fun.”

Loggain is in his first season as the offensive coordinator of the Gamecocks, and South Carolina is 2-2 after its first month of the season.

The Gamecocks had some tough matchups to start the year with North Carolina at a neutral site and Georgia between the hedges. Rattler has fared decently well in those matchups but has been sensational in the two victories.

Wide receiver Xavier Legette has emerged as his top target and had another standout game Saturday. Rattler found him five times for 189 yards and two touchdowns. One of those touchdowns was a 76-yard score, which opened the scoring on the day in the first half.

Rattler is now at 95 completions out of 126 pass attempts on the season for 1,242 yards and seven touchdowns with only two interceptions.

South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer was asked by Cole Cubelic on the television broadcast after the game about Rattler’s play and Beamer had high praise for his quarterback.

“He’s playing out of his mind right now. I saw that he was 13 of 13 at halftime. It’s kind of like when a pitcher has a no-hitter going. I didn’t want to say anything to him. But he’s a big-time player and then, being able to run for some first downs. He’s a better athlete than people give him credit for. He did an awesome job for us tonight,” Beamer said.