Spencer Rattler shares why South Carolina was right fit for him

South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler addressed the media in an official capacity for the first time since announcing his transfer to the Gamecocks program back in December. He addressed his feelings toward the program and why it was the right choice for both parties.

The former Oklahoma quarterback wanted to go somewhere that had that tradition and where [fans] love their team. He has now found it in Columbia and he’s been enjoying it, Rattler said in a press conference Wednesday afternoon.

Rattler, a former five-star recruit, lost the starting job to Caleb Williams last season at Oklahoma and decided to test his luck in the transfer portal before the end of last season. The Arizona-native said nearly every team in the nation reached out to him and his family before he ultimately made the decision to join head coach Shane Beamer in Columbia for a fresh start.

The idea of comfortability kept pushing him toward South Carolina, and add in the fact that his former Oklahoma teammate Austin Stogner was considering the Gamecocks (and eventually committed) at the time, and it was a perfect fit.

“I feel totally refreshed. Being at a new university, a great university like this. I am very comfortable here. Knowing coach Beamer, getting to know all these guys my first month up here,” Rattler said. “I made a great decision. I feel like the pressure is taken off a little bit. My main focus right now is starting over with my team after spring break and going on to spring ball.”

On top of the perfect fit, Rattler feels comfortable in offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield’s schemes. Rattler said the system at South Carolina rivals a pro-style system and he is learning new things every day in terms of terminology and verbiage that he didn’t know coming in.

Rattler gave a shout-out to Satterfield and offensive analyst Nick Coleman for easing him into the program seamlessly, saying he’s probably learned more in a month in Columbia than he has in his entire college career thanks to film, team chemistry, etc.

That isn’t a slight toward Oklahoma, but rather a compliment to Beamer and the culture he’s brought to South Carolina in just over one calendar year.

“I learned that I can accomplish a lot of great things with great guys around me,” Rattler said. “I had a great team at Oklahoma for my three years there. I learned a lot about my leadership skills, I feel like I improved in that area. I learned I can fight the adversity that is thrown my way. God has given me the talent to do my thing on the field and help the team I am on. Happy that I landed on my feet in Columbia, South Carolina and I can’t wait to get this ball rolling.”