Trey Knox breaks down his early connection with Spencer Rattler

Former Arkansas tight end Trey Knox could’ve gone any number of places when he entered the transfer portal at the conclusion of the 2022 season. When he chose South Carolina, he also was choosing to line up with quarterback and fellow transfer Spencer Rattler.

Following the Gamecocks spring game on Saturday, Knox was excited about the growth of the connection between him and his quarterback. He has high hopes for where the South Carolina offense can go in 2023.

“I think that we really have good skill guys and I think that we’ll be able to use them in our offense and make plays. We’re very talented as an offense. And we’ll be able to — I mean, we have so many guys and so many weapons that everybody has to get used,” Knox said.

Knox, a four-year player for the Razorbacks, flashed some big-time potential in 2019, his freshman season. The 6-foot-5, 245 pound tight end played in 11 games and caught 28 passes for 385 yards and three touchdowns in his first collegiate season.

Knox built on that season the next few years and turned in a 26 reception, 296 yard and five touchdown senior season with the Razorbacks. By the time he left Arkansas, he had played in 45 games and made 29 starts. In those games he had 81 receptions for 892 yards and nine touchdowns.

Now with the Gamecocks, Knox is seeking to elevate his game to an even higher plane. To that end, playing with Rattler has been great, he said. From reading out coverages to knowing how and where each pass catcher likes throws to arrive, the South Carolina signal caller makes things fast and fun.

“Spencer, he’s a great quarterback, man. He’s very smart. Strong arm. And he’s very intentional. He knows what he’s doing. He knows who to look at, what to read, where to place the ball. If I’m coming out of a stick route, what shoulder to put it on so that I can avoid the defender. He thinks about all those things. And he’s very cerebral,” Knox said. “And you just love playing with guys like that, that are on the same page as you are. It makes the game fun.”

With optimism building around the Gamecocks this offseason following a pair of signature wins at the end of the 2022 regular season, a potent passing attack with a tight end like Knox and Rattler playing to his physical potential could be just the thing to push South Carolina closer to SEC contention in 2023.