Spencer Rattler is adjusting well to South Carolina with players' help

Change is never easy. Moving to a new school and football program can be a big adjustment. Luckily for Spencer Rattler, he’s been able to roll with the punches and find his place with South Carolina Football.

“I’m able to adapt to a new system, new people, new state, everything. So, just being able to have that change of scenery is always refreshing,” Rattler said in a Garnet Trust exclusive interview with Gamecock Central’s Kendall Smith. “I was always ready to play basketball towards the end of football season in high school or middle school and I was always ready for baseball after basketball season. Same sort of thing but not really. Being able to adapt with a new team and being able to lead, I would say that’s something I realized about myself.”

[Get four months of Gamecock Central for $1!]

Rattler previously spent three seasons at Oklahoma, where he threw for 4,595 yards and 40 touchdowns with 12 interceptions. However, following a difficult 2021 campaign, he entered the transfer portal and committed to the Gamecocks. When he first joined the team in the spring, his fellow quarterbacks helped him better adjust to this new chapter.

“I would say Luke Doty and Zeb (Noland) helped me out with the difference in the offense. Just gave me little tips and pointers and helped me out with what I’m seeing cause it’s a whole new offense,” Rattler said.

Doty, who’s going into his junior year, started four games last season and two more the year before that. Noland joined South Carolina football last season as a staff member before putting the pads on one more time to play quarterback. He is now once again a graduate assistant on Shane Beamer’s coaching staff. Both of them have a lot of experience, but Rattler believes he can provide some insight as well.

“I try to help those guys out because I got more experience than them at this point. So, we all work off each other but if I got any keys or tips for them, we’ve got a deep quarterback room, a lot of guys, a lot of great guys. I mean, it’s a great room and it’s always fun to be around them. We definitely work off each other and we compete every day in practice,” Rattler said.

Even outside of the quarterback room, Rattler has tried to build connections with the other players involved in the offense.

“I try to go out there and help them see what I see—help them out a little bit—they’ll help me out. And we really just work off each other and that’s what I like,” Rattler said. “There’s just so many weapons we have, not just receiver wise, but running back, tight end, you name it. We’ve got a lot of weapons and a lot of guys that can make plays, so I’m excited.”

Outside of Rattler, the Gamecocks’ offense will look much different in 2022. This comes with the addition of multiple transfers and returning veterans.

“During those player-led practices and 7-on-7’s, we’ll be running routes on air, anything. Just going through our playbook and really mastering it—running three reps a day and doing it against five different looks—that’s when you get that comfortability with everybody and that chemistry down. I feel like we’ve all done a great job,” Rattler said.

With less than two months until the season begins, the team’s chemistry is “getting there,” according to Rattler.

“Obviously, we still got a lot of work to do throughout the summer and fall camp, but the bond is getting really tight with all these guys. I’m already ready to suit up on the field with them,” Rattler said.

South Carolina will report to fall camp on Friday, Aug. 5. The team will open the season on Saturday, Sept. 3 against Georgia State at Williams-Brice Stadium.

Discuss Spencer Rattler and Gamecock football on The Insiders Forum!