Spencer Rattler explains why he returned to South Carolina over NFL

Spencer Rattler could have called it a college career this offseason and made his way to the NFL. Going to the draft after four years, three at Oklahoma and one with South Carolina, would have landed him with some franchise that was willing to take a shot on him.

However, he’s back with the Gamecocks because, in his decision-making process, he found more pros than cons in coming back to Columbia. As he explained at SEC Media Days, earning his degree and completing some unfinished business made him want to return to school for one more year before heading to the league.

“I just think I definitely weighed the options out. There were more pros with coming back, obviously,” Rattler said. “I graduate in December so I’ll get my degree. That’s something that’ll mean a lot to me and my family. So that was one.”

“And I feel like we left a little on the table the year before. So I’ve got a lot more to prove,” said Rattler. “I think that’s why me and Juice (Wells) came back. We feel like we’ve got something to prove. That’s what we’re trying to do this year as a group.”

Rattler threw for a career-high in completions (264) and pass attempts (399) last season at South Carolina. That led to 3,026 passing yards, five off his career-best, along with 18 touchdowns on a 66.2% completion rate.

For all of the critics that Rattler has had, he earned his shot to play at the next level with how he played down the stretch of last season. Even so, he’s back for more at South Carolina to finish frying some other fish on Saturdays before he makes that individual jump to Sundays.

Beamer explains what went into Rattler’s decision to return

When the 2022 football season ended, South Carolina’s Shane Beamer was not certain his quarterback Spencer Rattler would return for one last season in Columbia.

Fast forward to now and Rattler is joining Beamer at SEC Media Days, as the two are looking to keep the positive momentum from last season going into the upcoming season. On ‘SEC This Morning’, Beamer pulled back the curtain on the process that lead to Rattler’s return.

“When I told you guys immediately after the season that I didn’t know? I didn’t know,” Beamer said. “I mean those are the conversations that he and I had. And myself and his dad and his family also. We finished the regular season, we know we have a decision to make. He really was totally focused on the bowl game and trying to beat Notre Dame in that bowl game. We had conversations throughout the month off and on, his family and I and Spencer and I.

“We talked a little bit, had some conversations over the next week. But Spencer’s a very mature guy. Very smart guy, unbelievable family. He was going to make the best decision for him and his future and his family,” Beamer said. “Absolutely glad that he decided to come back. He’s a great guy, love being around him. (He) makes our team better, makes our program better in coming back for another season. He’s still young. He’s played a lot of college football but he’s still a young guy and this is the best thing for his future also.”