Spencer Rattler: 'I made the right decision' choosing Gamecocks
Spencer Rattler’s first few months with the South Carolina football program have seemingly gone better than he could have even anticipated.
Rattler and the Gamecocks wrapped up their spring practice over the weekend with the Garnet and Black Spring Game when the former Oklahoma quarterback made his debut in front of the Carolina fan base.
While the official attendance number didn’t do justice the number of people who showed up for their first and only glimpse of the team this spring, Rattler left impressed with the atmosphere at Williams-Brice Stadium.
“It was really fun getting out there,” Rattler said. “What a great turnout, with the fans. That was an environment I had never seen with a spring game before, so it was a lot of fun getting out there, throwing it around a little bit, getting a couple of runs, and the guys looked good.”
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Rattler, who quarterbacked the Garnet team but only was in for a half, was efficient in his debut, playing within the confines of the offense while completing 8 of 10 passes for 76 yards and no turnovers.
His best throw was a 30-yard strike to wide receiver Xavier Legette on a corner route off play-action.
It was a positive debut for Rattler who reiterated that the fans set the tone from the moment the players arrived at Willaims-Brice Stadium for the Gamecock Walk.
“It was like non-stop — you looked left and right, (there were) fans everywhere,” Rattler said. “I’ve never seen anything like that. And then Coach Satterfield said, look at that, and then times that by five or 50 and that’s what it’s going to be like during the season, so I can only imagine what it’s going to be like.”
Rattler and the Gamecocks will be back at Willy B for the next Gamecock Walk when Carolina hosts Georgia State in its season-opener on Sept. 3.
Until then, Rattler plans to head home for the month of May to work out with his trainers and QB coach, before returning to Columbia in June for summer workouts.
The former five-star and No. 1 overall quarterback in the 2019 class, Rattler had many suitors when he chose Shane Beamer and the Gamecocks last December. But his experience with the program so far has only reinforced his decision.
“Just the overall vibe… This city, this town, you can feel the excitement for this team and the love for this team,” Rattler said. “That’s big-time for us. When our fans got our back, we feel invincible. … That just made me even happier, knowing I made the right decision, with how loyal these fans are.”
