Spencer Rattler had a 'great time' competing at Manning Passing Academy
Since 1996, the Manning Passing Academy has developed young football players, with help from many college and pro athletes. South Carolina football quarterback Spencer Rattler attended the camp this year as a counselor from June 23-26.
During a Garnet Trust exclusive interview with Gamecock Central‘s Kendall Smith, Rattler said it was a great experience.
“Archie Manning gave us all a call months before. I was gonna go out there last year but I made it out there this year. It was a great time, probably the hottest place I had ever been though—Thibodaux, Louisiana,” Rattler said.
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Rattler was one of the many quarterbacks in attendance throughout the camp. Other big names like Alabama’s Bryce Young and Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud were there as well. Rattler said they all helped coach around 1,500 kids and put them through various drills.
“We had ran our own stations and stuff like that. We were up from sun up to sun down,” Rattler said.
Generally, one thing to consider at these camps is the differences in skill level. Not every young athlete is the same, which is something Rattler completely understands.
“A lot of people are born with athleticism, a lot of people have to work for it, a lot of people really have to be determined to be a good quarterback,” Rattler said. “The main thing is the work. What I like to tell them is if you don’t have a quarterback coach, try to get one early on. And if you don’t, just work on certain drills like footwork and the little things—throwing off platform just to get comfortable with it, balance—all the little things to be a good quarterback.”
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While he primarily focused on coaching, Rattler did participate in a couple of throwing competitions with the other quarterbacks. During the “Air It Out” competition, he showed off his ridiculous arm strength in front of a large crowd. He dropped back, almost to his own 30-yard line, and fired a rocket to his receiver near the opposite goal line.
“I did very well and had a great time competing out there with those guys, and got to show a lot of people what I got,” Rattler said.
Rattler’s other piece of advice was to keep playing other sports while growing up and “have fun with it.”
“When I was growing up, I was playing multiple sports and I think that is beneficial for quarterback, any position in football. Keep playing basketball, football, baseball, you name it,” he said. “When your time is to lock in on football, do it when you’re comfortable with it.”
