Oklahoma Sooners: Rece Davis calls out fans chanting to bench Spencer Rattler

Shortly after Oklahoma Sooners fans began chanting against their starting quarterback Spencer Rattler, ESPN’s Rece Davis took to social media with a blunt message for the OU faithful.

“Look. Fans can say and yell what they want,” Davis said. “But the Sooner fans chanting for the backup QB in the first half aren’t helping their team. And they are helping those who recruit against them.”

With the game tied 7-7 in the first half of vs. West Virginia, fans could clearly be heard chanting “We want Caleb,” as Rattler walked off the field after an interception.

National college football writer RJ Young added this is actually isn’t the first time Sooners’ fans have turned on their star quarterback in a moment where they should clearly be supporting him.

“They wanted Spencer the same year Jalen Hurts won the Big 12 title and took the team to the Playoff,” Young said. “Death, taxes, and OU fans begging for the backup. Miss me with this nonsense.”

Caleb Williams, Rattler’s backup, is a true freshman and the No. 1 overall player in On3’s class of 2021 recruiting rankings. He saw limited action in the Sooners’ blowout victory against Western Carolina, going 5-of-10 for 84 yards.

At halftime with his team trailing 10-7, Rattler was 7-of-11 for 73 yards, one touchdown and an interception. As the clear Oklahoma Sooners starter a season ago, Rattler is no stranger to getting benched. After a poor start against Texas in last year’s Red River Rivalry game, he was briefly replaced by Tanner Mordecai.

Rattler entered the 2021 campaign as a Heisman Trophy frontrunner and while the Oklahoma Sooner have clawed to a 3-0 record, the young signal caller has struggled at times. In the season opener against Tulane he threw for more interceptions (2) than touchdowns (1) as Oklahoma narrowly escaped an upset.

Rattler re-entered the game for one more drive after the chant took place. Perhaps shaken from the disrespect, he had an incompletion and a sack as the Sooners went three-and-out.

As much as the crowd would like to put the blame solely on Rattler, there were other issues in the first half. The Sooners managed just 18 yards on the ground. Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley clearly has trust in his quarterback, as Rattler again led the Sooners out onto the field in the second half.

The Sooners have had two Heisman-winning quarterbacks in the past five seasons. Baker Mayfield took the award in 2016 while Kyler Murray claimed it the following season. Many believed Rattler could be the next in line, but he clearly has a lot more to prove before he gets there.

For now, Oklahoma Sooners fans can continue to chant, but Riley is a proven coach and it’s highly unlikely he gives in to fan requests.