NFL analyst would 'pound table' for South Carolina's Spencer Rattler in draft
The fuss of the NFL Draft is all about the quarterback, with as many as six going in the first round. But what about Spencer Rattler?
What is Rattler’s place in the draft? You know the former Gamecock quarterback. He’s the one-time five-star quarterback who had the misfortune of being on the same team as Caleb Williams, the likely No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft later this month. This was while both were at Oklahoma. Williams eventually replaced Williams in the Texas game. Both didn’t stay in Norman long. While Williams left for USC to follow coach Lincoln Riley, Rattler transferred to South Carolina on the other side of the football country.
Charles Davis, a former Tennessee Vol DB, is a pro football analyst for both CBS and the NFL Network. He developed a list of NFL Draft prospects he’d “pound the table for.” Rattler tops the list. Here’s Davis’ assessment:
“I’ve seen progress from Rattler on and off the field over the past two seasons. He’ll probably go late on Day 2 or early on Day 3 of the draft, but there’s a reason he was once a highly touted prospect. Remember, this was a five-star recruit widely considered the best quarterback in his class.
“He eventually lost his starting job to Caleb Williams at Oklahoma in 2021 and then transferred to South Carolina after the season. His setback has become a comeback, though. Rattler was the Gamecocks’ co-MVP in 2022 and then set school records for completions (275) and completion percentage (68.9) in 2023. He’s shown he has the tools and toughness to succeed. I feel good about this young man — who has some Teddy Bridgewater in his game — and his chances of making it in the NFL. “
Rattler has enjoyed some nice moments during the NFL Draft process. Namely, he earned MVP honors of the Senior Bowl. A number of the top QB prospects skipped the prestigious all-star game, but Rattler made the most of it. Plus, he won top quarterback on the American team. Defenders Rattler faced voted on the award, so it probably meant more for Rattler. Bo Nix and Michael Penix Jr also competed at the Senior Bowl.
Going forward, you can probably gauge how high Rattler goes in the NFL Draft based on when Nix and Penix are picked. Here’s why. The top four quarterbacks are well-known and could be the top four picks of the draft. They are Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, and J.J. McCarthy.
There are a number of teams in need of a quarterback, so six quarterbacks could go in the first round. That’s where Nix and Penix could come into play. If they make it amongst the top 32, then Rattler may see himself going into the second, maybe the third round. Others see him as a third-day pick.
But remember, Davis would pound the table for him. The NFL Draft starts April 25 in Detroit. To keep up with all of On3’s coverage, click it here.