2024 NFL Draft: The mystery of Spencer Rattler

• Highly-touted recruit: Rattler was the top quarterback recruit in the 2019 class over players like Bo Nix, Jayden Daniels and Sam Howell.

• Rocky tenure at Oklahoma: Despite a hot start to his career, Rattler was benched at Oklahoma and was forced to transfer to South Carolina.

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Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Spencer Rattler is an enigma. 

Due to the amount of ups and downs he’s had in his career, his time in college could only be described as a rollercoaster that few could stomach. 

Coming out of high school, Rattler was the top quarterback recruit in the 2019 class according to On3’s industry rating. He was rated higher than Bo Nix, Jayden Daniels and Sam Howell. 

Rattler began his career at Oklahoma as a true freshman third-string quarterback, learning behind future NFL star Jalen Hurts. He took over the starting job in his redshirt freshman season and looked like Lincoln Riley’s next superstar signal-caller. His 92.6 PFF grade in 2020 trailed only Mac Jones, Zach Wilson and Justin Fields among FBS quarterbacks that year. All three were selected in the top 15 of the subsequent 2021 NFL Draft. 

Rattler entered his redshirt sophomore season as the favorite for both the Heisman Trophy and to be the first overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. That hype quickly died as he was benched for freshman phenom Caleb Williams midway through the season. Ironically enough, they’re both now in the same draft class, with Williams projected to go first overall.

Rattler’s deep ball, which had been a strength in 2020, took a nosedive in 2021.

Spencer Rattler on 20-plus yard throws in 2021

Rattler went from the top quarterback prospect to one that had to enter the transfer portal. He ended up at South Carolina and had a rocky start to his Gamecocks tenure. In 2022, Rattler’s 64.2 PFF passing grade ranked 102nd among FBS signal-callers, and he ended up with more turnover-worthy plays (22) than big-time throws (21) that season. 

He improved his PFF passing grade to a 72.5 mark this past year. Rattler was also ninth among FBS quarterbacks in 2023 with a 79.4% adjusted completion rate, which shows how improved his accuracy had become. He compounded his bounce-back season with a strong performance last week at the Senior Bowl, winning the game’s MVP award after completing all four of his passes for 65 yards and a perfectly placed touchdown to Georgia’s Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint.

A dime from @SpencerRattler to @rosemy_marcus on the first drive for the American squad 🔥 @GamecockFB @GeorgiaFootball pic.twitter.com/3Ctqyj8AJR

— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) February 3, 2024

While Rattler’s tape has been wildly inconsistent throughout his career, the flashes of greatness that he’s shown combined with his arm talent could entice a team into spending a second-round pick on the polarizing quarterback.