Spencer Rattler, Josh Simon building rapport in first season together
Palmetto State native and former Western Kentucky standout Josh Simon joined the South Carolina football team this spring with less fanfare than some of the Gamecocks’ other mid-year transfer additions.
But the former Sumter (S.C.) Crestwood standout quickly transitioned to the SEC level and started gaining respect from his new coaches and teammates.
So it wasn’t much of a surprise when South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler instantly thought of the tight end earlier this week when asked on a Garnet Trust interview about players who have taken their game to the next level this summer.
“What comes to mind is Josh Simon,” Rattler said. “He’s been a guy that’s just a freak athlete, a lot of range, can go get the ball. He’s going to be a big-time player for us this year. Other guys (would be) obviously Trey Knox. We’ve been talking about him. Tight end room is amazing right now.”
Jody Wright’s completely rebuilt tight end room was heavily discussed throughout the spring with both Knox and Simon quickly showing they can create mismatches in the passing game while also holding up as blockers. While those two are the likely starters in a two-tight end set, fellow transfer Nick Elksnis as well as freshmen Reid Mikeska and Connor Cox proved they can help round out the rotation.
It appears the feelings of respect Rattler has for Simon are mutual as the upperclassman tight end talked up Rattler during a Garnet Trust Hour appearance on 107.5 The Game this week and discussed how they are developing a rapport on the field with each other.
“That’s my guy too,” Simon said. “He’s definitely a top-tier quarterback. He definitely belongs in the SEC. He’s got a chip on his shoulder too. So he’s very, very specific, very kind of articulate about certain things but you can go to him and ask him anything. He’ll talk to you, he’ll laugh with you. Yeah, Spencer is a cool dude, very intelligent. He knows what he wants to do with the ball. But at the same time we all work together to make each other better. We could go to him, ‘Hey Spence, when you see this, I might do this’ or ‘If you see this, let me know and we could do that.’ We’re one big family that can critique each other without getting too harsh about it or in our feelings about it.”
Rattler and Simon and the rest of the South Carolina team are set to begin preseason camp in about two weeks.
The Gamecocks kick off the 2023 season with North Carolina on Sept 2. in the Duke’s Mayo Classic at Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium. The matchup is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff with ABC broadcasting the game.
[Get news from GamecockCentral via email]
