The Forgotten Quarterback: Spencer Rattler

Spencer Rattler.

The name of this quarterback (QB) will bring up some interesting reactions.

College football is no stranger to politics.

I do not mean the right, the left, or any of the government’s politics.

No, I am talking about the politics that occur in every day sports – – the politics that determine who is going to play and who isn’t. From pee-wee football all the way to the National Football League, politics exist.

In my hometown, growing up, my last name was not McMillen, Caldwell, or Niemann. Those names may or may not mean anything to you, but to me, those names meant I would never be anything more than a backup QB throughout high school.

It had nothing to do with my talent.

I was a 15-year-old sophomore who could chuck the pigskin 60+ yards, but that didn’t matter. I ended up playing safety and linebacker, then at practice I did my best to take the QB’s head off when blitzing to display my dismay in the matter.

Needless to say, I ended up running a lot of laps.

The Manziel Effect

If you want to hear more about college politics, just ask anyone from Texas A&M.

In 2015, three of the best QBs in the country, Kenny Hill, Kyle Allen, and Kyler Murray walked away from College Station in less than a year.

Some players could do whatever they wanted to do, players like Johnny Manziel, while others had to work.

Sometimes you will never hear what the real story was between the players and the coaches.

This is what I believe happened in Oklahoma, which brings us back to Rattler.

His transfer from Oklahoma to South Carolina stinks of politics.

It was the end of Rattler’s time at Oklahoma which gave a lot of people a bad opinion of him.

What does Rattler look like on game film?

However, we are here to talk football.

Let’s get to it.

Rattler stands at 6’1” 215 pounds.

Back in the 2019, he was the five-star rated consensus QB1 of the recruiting class.

The first thing I noticed about Rattler on film was his accuracy. The dude can sling it and he knows it.

Rattler has no lack of confidence in his arm, and he embraces it.

Rattler will throw into double and triple coverage without thinking twice, which also raises his interception ratio a bit higher.

If only he threw the ball into the stands more often, it would benefit him like none other.

Forcing throws is his biggest downfall.

By far, he is not the strongest-armed QB, but he does put enough zip on the ball to place it where he wants whenever he wants.

Rattler can add some beautiful touch on his passes as well.

Some people probably glance at his stats, and think that he doesn’t belong anywhere near the top of the draft.

However, statistics are not everything.

Rattler’s top weapon at South Carolina is tight-end Jaheim Bell, who doesn’t excite my tastes, but there is no questioning this QB’s talent.

Is Rattler the next Patrick Mahomes?

Rattler has a “Mahomes-esque” feel about him.

Rattler’s accuracy and mechanics might even be a little better than the Chiefs’ QB.

Mobility is a push.

However, the rocket launcher that Mahomes’ has is second to none, except for maybe, Josh Allen’s arm.

There are some analysts like ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky, and First Round Mock’s own Daniel Kelly, who said Rattler looked like a possible top-10 draft pick.

I am not saying Rattler will take the league by storm like Mahomes did. What I am saying is that Rattler has all the makings of a NFL QB. Someone in the league will recognize his traits, and his structure.

Whoever that may be, they will pound-the-table for Rattler’s name to be called out when their team’s draft card is turned in.

My BIG three questions…

1. Is it the right thing for Rattler to declare early and will he?
2. Can he and will be able to overcome the adversity after he left Oklahoma?
3. Will Rattler put together another great performance against rival No. 7 Clemson (or in South Carolina’s projected Bowl game) to solidify his draft status?

How Rattler stacks up and game film reviewed

Draft Projection: First or Second Round (Top 45)

Pro comparison: Along the lines of Patrick Mahomes

Game Film Evaluated: (Jersey No. 7 at both Oklahoma and South Carolina):

Oklahoma vs. Nebraska ’21

South Carolina vs. Georgia ’22

South Carolina vs. Tennessee ’22

The author, William Yanish, has been a football fan since he was knee high to a grasshopper. He played football until his body wouldn’t let him any longer at the tender young age of 17. He is an aspiring sports writer and author, who covers the NFL Draft for firstroundmock.com. Yanish attended Colorado Mesa University on the western slope of Colorado.