Spencer Rattler could be one of the most under-the-radar quarterbacks entering the NFL Draft in 2023.
Rattler, once considered the Heisman front runner and a potential top-five pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, has had to completely revitalize his path to the NFL since he was benched for Caleb Williams when Oklahoma after struggling in the first half of the Red River Showdown in 2021.
In 2020, Rattler was the hottest name in college football. In his first year as a collegiate starter, he threw for 3,031 yards, 28 touchdowns and just seven interceptions with a QB rating of 172.6. He showed versatility and while he wasn’t an explosive runner, had to make defenses account of his legs adding another 180 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns on the ground, while constantly rolling out of the pocket and making off-schedule throws with pressure closing in on him.
Spencer Rattler then began to get mentioned in Heisman Trophy conversations heading into 2021 and was talked about as the top quarterback prospect for the 2022 NFL Draft.
It’s almost unfathomable to look back on how things changed for Rattler. He led the No. 10 Oklahoma Sooners to a (5-0) start in 2021 before the rivalry matchup against Texas, where the Sooners were clearly the favorite as the Longhorns were just beginning their rebuild.
Rattler finished the game completing 8 of 15 passes for 111 yards and an interception, adding minus-9 rushes and a lost fumble on five carries. Following his second turnover — both led to Texas touchdowns —
Head coach Lincoln Riley benched him in favor of true freshman Caleb Williams, starting with the Sooners’ final drive of the first half with Oklahoma trailing 28-7.
This was the moment that changed the trajectory for both quarterbacks who are now preparing for April’s NFL Draft.
Caleb Williams who led is team to a monumental comeback win over their rival. He finished the game 16-of-25 for 212 yards and two touchdowns without turning the ball over. He added another four carries for 88 yards and a touchdown as a runner, showing an explosive dual-treat ability.
Rattler never saw the field as a starter again that season, and Riley took the USC job after the season and brought Caleb Williams with him who went on to win the Heisman Trophy that season.
Spencer Rattler transferred to South Carolina where he had mixed results playing in a new system behind a weak offensive line. Rattler posted back-to-back seasons where he threw for more than 3,000 yards but had 20 interceptions in his two seasons in Columbia.
He looked much better in 2023, finishing the year with 3,186 yards, 19 touchdowns, 8 interceptions and a completion percentage of 68.9.
Still, most NFL talent evaluators have mixed reviews on the former Gamecocks QB’s NFL Draft Stock. CBS Draft expert Ryan Wilson views Rattler as a “Day 3” QB, while Yahoo wrote a piece saying Rattler may have skyrocketed up team’s draft boards after a stellar performance at the Senior Bowl where he was named MVP of the showcase event.
Former NFL Scout Calls Spencer Rattler The Next Patrick Mahomes, Thinks Caleb Williams Hype Isn’t Accurate
Since Williams took over for Rattler, he has had a meteoric rise to become one of the most polarizing NFL Draft prospects in years.
Nearly every top evaluator views the USC QB as a “generational talent” and he’s been tabbed as a can’t miss prospect with the ability to instantly turn a franchise into a contender. His off-schedule style and dual-threat ability have drawn comparisons to Chiefs great Patrick Mahomes, time and time again.
By now, nearly every NFL analyst and insider believes the Chicago Bears are going to mortgage their future on Caleb Williams with the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Williams is considered by almost every draft expert and talent evaluator as the clear top QB — not only in this draft — but in the last decade or so.
But one former NFL scout who worked under Bill Parcells for the New York Jets shares a very different opinion.
Daniel Kelly, a former NFL scout for the New York Jets under a regime that featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scottt Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, Dick Haley and other highly respected NFL minds, believes Spencer Rattler is the top QB of his class and views Caleb Williams with a fourth-round grade, comparing him to Zach Wilson.
Kelly believes Rattler, not Williams, is the closest comparison to Patrick Mahomes in this year’s class, but officially compares him to Brett Favre.
Here’s what Kelly said about the South Carolina QB in an article titled “Spencer Rattler Is The Next Patrick Mahomes.”
Athletic and ultra competitive NFL-ready gunslinger with a strong arm who can move around and leads with a high energy tempo. Crisp and alert looking and well schooled in terms of pocket mechanics and ball handling. His play-action fake even fooled the television camera. Decisive and deliberate. Can go through his progressions and pull the trigger quickly. Excels rolling out and he has a strong enough arm that he can hit his targets downfield without needing to set his feet. Tough as nails and poised to deliver under pressure. Big league arm, but he can also take something off and deliver passes with touch and finesse when needed. Able to make all the throws in terms of velocity and distance. Works the short game well, especially on the perimeters. Drives the ball and excels in the intermediate range. Not good at the deep range in terms of placement. Did not hit one deep in these documented four games (also struggled in the three 2020 games viewed). Tendency to make ill-advised passes when he tries to do too much. Takes a lot of sacks (35 total 2020-2021) and he is not much of a runner (2.0 college career rushing average). Overall, he has the skill-set to move the meter at the next level.
