Spring notes: Spencer Rattler impresses, Jaden Rashada moves on from NIL drama

Matt Zenitz, On3’s senior national college football writer, has a handful of spring practice observations from around college football, including from South Carolina where quarterback Spencer Rattler continues to impress. Zenitz also has nuggets from Arizona State about Jaden Rashada’s early progress and some Alabama freshmen that are already turning heads. Zenitz’s reporting is based on On3 sources.

Internal buzz at South Carolina grows for Spencer Rattler

If Spencer Rattler plays this fall like he’s performed through this point of South Carolina’s spring practices, the Gamecocks could have one of the SEC’s top quarterbacks.

There’s a lot of internal buzz at South Carolina about Rattler and how he’s looked under new offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains, who was hired in December after spending 11 of the last 13 seasons working in the NFL as an offensive coordinator and/or quarterbacks coach.

Rattler and Loggains seem to be very much on the same page. In addition, Loggains’ new system has simplified things for Rattler and Gamecocks offensive players. The system plays to the strengths of Rattler, who is seemingly more comfortable overall heading into his second season in the South Carolina program.

Rattler, who transferred to the Gamecocks after three seasons at Oklahoma, threw for 3,026 yards, 18 touchdowns and 12 interceptions last season.

After posting eight touchdown passes, nine interceptions and an average of just 197 passing yards in South Carolina’s first nine games against FBS opponents, Rattler closed the year with totals of 1,044 passing yards, 10 passing touchdowns, one additional rushing TD and three interceptions in the Gamecocks’ final three games against Tennessee, Clemson and Notre Dame.

In addition to Rattler, South Carolina also returns other offensive contributors such as Rattler’s top weapon from last season, Antwane “Juice” Wells, who finished last year with 68 catches for 928 yards and six touchdowns.

Jaden Rashada off to strong start at Arizona State

While most of the Jaden Rashada discussion in recent months has centered on his well-publicized NIL saga with Florida, the last few weeks have served as a reminder of something else: he is a very talented young quarterback.

That’s been clear to people within the Arizona State program ever since Rashada enrolled in March and began practicing with the Sun Devils.

Rashada, the sixth-ranked quarterback in the 2023 class according to the On3 Industry Ranking, has impressed Arizona State’s staff with his approach and work ethic to go along with how he’s improved and picked things up since his arrival.

Rashada has also flashed high-end arm talent and displayed an advanced feel and composure inside the pocket.

While the Sun Devils have other quarterbacks right now – such as Notre Dame transfer Drew Pyne  – there’s a lot of optimism about Rashada’s future at Arizona State.

The Sun Devils wrap up spring practice with their spring game this weekend.

Justice Haynes, Caleb Downs among Bama freshmen to impress

Five-star defensive back Caleb Downs and highly ranked running back Justice Haynes are among the Alabama freshmen impressing this spring and already looking like potential factors for the Crimson Tide this season.

Downs, the top safety and No. 5 overall prospect in the 2023 class, is viewed internally as a potential starter.

Haynes is part of what Alabama feels should be a deep running back group. The unit includes senior Jase McClellan, who ran for 655 yards last year, other former top-100 recruits such as Roydell Williams and Jamarion Miller, as well as highly ranked newcomers such as Haynes and Richard Young, who is set to enroll this summer.

Haynes, the No. 2 running back and No. 33 overall prospect in the 2023 class, broke off a long run early in the Crimson Tide’s scrimmage last Friday. He later added a red zone touchdown run during which he ran through multiple defenders on his way to the end zone.

In addition to Haynes, Downs and some other top-ranked freshmen, a lesser-hyped Alabama freshman who has also generated some buzz this spring and has the Tide staff optimistic about his long-term future is four-star freshman wide receiver Cole Adams. Adams, an Owasso, Oklahoma native, ranked as the 38th-best wide receiver and 277th-best overall prospect in the 2023 class according to the On3 Industry Ranking.