My Brutally Honest Opinion of Spencer Rattler

A couple years ago, no one would have guessed that Spencer Rattler would be the starting QB for South Carolina. If someone had told me that then, I would have laughed. Looking back now, the fit makes sense. Coach Beamer’s recruiting prowess and ability to change a culture paved a clear path for athletes like Spencer Rattler to follow him. He’s a player’s coach, and a guy that elite prospects and known commodities alike want to join.

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Because of this, I don’t think that Rattler will be the last elite QB to transfer to Carolina, and if his decision to come back one more year pans out and lands him in an early draft position, I assume USC can quietly become a new destination for the best signal callers in the land.

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With that being said, Spencer Rattler is unlike any recruit we’ve ever had— not just because of his talent (we had Clowney from crying out loud) but also because of the off-field notoriety.

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So, after meeting Spencer multiple times, here is my brutally honest opinion of him:

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Context

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Rattler’s talent and competitiveness dominated the headlines well before he joined the Sooners back in 2019. He has always been a polarizing figure, forcing fans outside of Norman to either love him or hate him. They say there is no such thing as bad publicity, but an out-of-context video clip from Rattler’s youth followed him, giving his haters ammunition and his faithful fans a line in the sand to vigorously defend.

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When he announced his transfer to South Carolina, the Gamecock fanbase was as shocked as they were excited. Rattler immediately became the best Quarterback to ever land on a Gamecock roster with an upside that automatically thrusted Beamer’s crew into SEC East contender conversation. While Gamecocks everywhere found only positives in having Rattler as the face of the program, rival fans began their attempts to tarnish his legacy before it even started. Outside of ignoring his notable win percentage as a starter at OU, they circulated the video of the young Rattler “mouthing off at teammates” in an attempt to paint him as an arrogant player with poor team chemistry. To some, mostly those outside of the Garnet and Black faithful, the narrative may have worked, to others, those of us who still value common sense, the video was a reminder of the stark difference between the maturity level of a teenaged high school student and a 20-something-year-old college student.

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While common sense seems as rare as finding a Pappy Van Winkle at retail pricing, the public opinion of Rattler in Columbia was not swayed. As he took the field in the 2022 home opener, he was met with support that never wavered. Eventually, fan loyalty was rewarded with back-to-back Top 10 wins that included the first victory against Clemson in what felt like a century.

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As successful as the season was in hindsight, Rattler’s early struggles oiled the machine of those who already hated him. They became loud and unruly during weeks of challenge, yet oddly enough, after his dominant defeat of Tennessee and gutsy performance to win the Palmetto Bowl, those same folks were silent.

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Typical.

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My 1st Time Meeting Rattler

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I briefly met Rattler after storming the field at the Tennessee game. While it was difficult to engage in any meaningful conversation outside a pat on the back and quick selfie, I could tell then that he was not just a recruit looking for a path to the NFL; he was a Gamecock through and through.

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He treated the fans with appreciation, respect, and gratitude. And he celebrated with them, not as an elite Quarterback, but as a proud student of the University of South Carolina.

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It made quite the impression on me, but even then I knew that I couldn’t judge him based solely on one meeting after such a huge mountain top experience.

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My 2nd Time Meeting Rattler

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I met Rattler again, a month or so later at the SEC Watch Party hosted by CB90 and the Garnet Trust. Again, I assumed he would be polite, but expected him to be somewhat stand-offish, I mean he’s the hero that took down Clemson; he’s a legend around here.

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Before walking up to him, I had an amazing interaction with Cam Smith (truly someone who loves fans) and an extremely negative experience with a star player who transferred shortly after the party (I won’t name names, or explain further, let me just say that his attitude was the complete opposite of Cam Smith). After being insanely impressed by Cam and bitterly disappointed by the other, I was hesitant to find out what the real Spencer Rattler was like.

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Turns out, he was just like Cam Smith— kind, generous with his time, and a young man who carryied himself in a way that affirmed my respect for him. I immediately realized why his teammates loved him. He was a humble leader who showed maturity, grace, and enthusiasm to meet and personally speak with every person at the party.

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Whether or not he was compensated to be there, doesn’t change the fact that he showed sincerity in his interactions, going above and beyond to be a leader off the field.

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Like many others who attended that night, I remember walking away thinking, “I’m proud that he’s OUR guy.”

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My 3rd Time Meeting Rattler

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The third time I met Rattler was when he attended our recent golf tournament. Having already realized how great of a person he was, I expected more of the same, and he delivered.

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While every player who joined us as guests impressed me with their generosity and care for fans (Tanner Bailey is one hell of a guy!), Rattler, as the starting QB, was the main focus and continually in the spotlight— a role that he seemed humbled by. Throughout every interaction Rattler was kind, conscientious of everyone around him, and grateful for each person who approached, willingly giving his time and attention to ensure everyone felt appreciated.

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As remarkable as he was throughout the entire day in all of his conversations, the one thing that stood out to me most was him taking the time to pick up some trash and keep the course clean after he finished his round. That small gesture spoke loudly, once again confirmed that Rattler possesses a leadership that goes above and beyond; a certain sign of growth and maturity.

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Conclusion

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While some might say I’m biased, my brutally honest opinion of Spencer Rattler comes from personal experience and is one that I stand by: Rattler is a great leader, a fantastic role model, and someone who we should be proud to call QB 1.