NFL Warmup: Spencer Rattler Against Top-Ranked Georgia

Unranked South Carolina and their quarterback (QB) Spencer Rattler lost to No. 1 ranked Georgia 24-14 as he went 22-of-42 (53%) for 256 yards with one touchdown and two late interceptions (click to watch the game).

That within itself sounds so-so, but the tape says something different in what proved to be the closest thing to an NFL team Rattler will face in college football.

Georgia is loaded with four and five-star recruits.

In the first half, Rattler went 16-of-18 (89%) for 152 yards (with that one touchdown).

It was in the second half, the Gamecocks didn’t score and things began melting down for Rattler who was constantly under pressure, and in the end, he didn’t get it done. Despite being the leading passer and rusher for his team in this contest, the fact he didn’t get it done does play a part in his NFL projection.

One of the biggest negatives about Rattler is a tendency to try to do too much. It’s who he is. He lives and dies by the sword.

Did he do that against the Bulldogs in the last five minutes of the game when he threw both of his interceptions?

Yes, he looked like he was pressing.

There were additional traits he was showing that are useful in his NFL valuation.

Composed and focused

This is what jumped out at me at the beginning of the game and he came out throwing.

He wasn’t back on his heels or looking intimidated by the matchup.

Rattler moved around well in the pocket and remained focused downfield while staring down the barrel of the pass rush.

Unphased by the hostile environment

Rattler stood tall in the midst of 92,746 (mostly Georgia fans) and didn’t seem phased by the crowd noise.

I bring this up because I think it’s significant due to NFL QBs often having to go into such environments in high-pressure situations and Rattler mostly looked the part until the final five minutes of the game when the mismatches finally caught up to him. However, I believe that had more to do with Georgia knowing he had to pass than it did the crowd because he handled himself just fine for the rest of the game. He picked up a key 3rd and 10 and 3rd and 15 in the third quarter.

Ball placement and ball security

This is a big one in the NFL.

I’m not talking about completion percentage, I’m talking about ball placement. It’s the ability to put the ball where the receiver ideally needs it to be to be able to pick up additional yardage after catches.

How did Rattler do?

A lot of passes were right on the money. This included one right-on-target in tight coverage in the first quarter. He showed good arm strength and the ability to take something off his throws when needed. However, there were also three passes that were disrupted, and again, the two interceptions, which is another weakness he showed in his 2022 evaluation.

It was okay, but not great overall.

Dual Role

Rattler showed he could scoot out of the pocket and pick up some decent gains with his legs under pressure against the Bulldogs.

He had 35 yards on eight carries.

While he’s not former NFL QB Michael Vick, who was an electrifying dual-threat, Rattler does have above-average mobility. He can get that much-needed yardage at critical times.

Scouting conclusion

South Carolina was outmatched, but Rattler wasn’t against the No. 1 ranked team, and to me, that’s a great sign. I’m more impressed by what Rattler showed against Georgia than I am watching USC QB Caleb Williams beat up on No. 93 San Jose State, No. 131 Nevada, and No. 90 ranked Stanford. I’m not taking anything away from Williams, who has shown improvement. However, seeing Rattler play as well as he did (especially in the first half) was significant.

The Gamecocks had a porous offensive line (they lost their two projected starting tackles according to the television announcer). They also lost receiver Antwane “Juice” Wells Jr. (ranked preseason top 100 college players) to injury in the first quarter.

I’d say Rattler passed his NFL warmup test.

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, contributes at Yardbarker, and has written for Sports Illustrated Lions, Jets, and 49ers, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. He can be followed on Twitter @firstroundmock.