What’s next for Spencer Rattler? Former Oklahoma QB chooses new school after entering transfer portal

Spencer Rattler will try to rebuild his stock next season at a new school and under a coach he knows well. 

The former Oklahoma quarterback announced Monday night that he had committed to South Carolina. Rattler, a redshirt sophomore, entered the transfer portal Nov. 29, a day after coach Lincoln Riley left OU for the Southern California. He is reuniting with Shane Beamer, who was an assistant under Riley (assistant head coach/tight ends) for three years before taking the South Carolina head coaching job last year.

The early signing period for the Class of 2022 begins Wednesday. 

Riley benched Rattler in midseason this year for freshman Caleb Williams after a series of lackluster performances. The final straw was Rattler’s play in the Red River Showdown vs. Texas; he was 8 for 15 for 111 yards and had an interception against the Longhorns.

Rattler attempted just 12 more passes the remainder of the season, completing 10 of them for 112 yards and a touchdown. His overall 2021 numbers: 140-of-187 passing (74.9 completion percentage), 1,483 yards, 11 touchdowns, five interceptions. 

Those numbers — and the demotion — were the hard landing in Rattler’s fall from grace. He began the season as a Heisman Trophy contender and a first-round prospect in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Now, he’ll try to rebuild his resume while playing in the SEC East next year. Rattler represents a sizable upgrade to the Gamecocks’ quarterback depth chart. South Carolina leaned on graduate assistant Zeb Noland and fifth-year transfer Jason Brown for a large chunk of this season. Incumbent starter Luke Doty suffered a foot injury in fall camp, debuted in Week 3 and then aggravated the injury in October against Vanderbilt, which led to season-ending surgery.

Despite the upheaval at the position, the Gameocks finished 6-6 and earned a bid to the Duke’s Mayo Bowl against North Carolina in Charlotte, N.C., on Dec. 30.

For now, Doty will be back for 2022 along with quarterbacks Colten Gauthier and Jake Helfrich. Connor Jordan entered the transfer portal this week.

Beamer didn’t stop at Rattler on Monday; he also lured former Sooners tight end Austin Stogner out of the portal. Stogner caught 14 passes for 166 yards (11.9 average) and three touchdowns as a junior this season.

He can take the place of fifth-year player Nick Muse and pair with Jaheim Bell, who has had a big role in the Gamecocks’ passing game this season. Bell has 25 receptions, second-most on the team, 338 yards and three touchdowns as a sophomore. 

The double dose of transfers left Beamer spinning Monday night: 

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