Just 18 days stand between now and the kickoff the 2024 NFL season for the New Orleans Saints.
And perhaps one of the most-watched players in the coming months who its not taking the field as a starter in the coming months is none other than former South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler.
Here’s a look into everything to know about the player who dons No. 18 for the Saints:
- Name (Age): Spencer Rattler (23)
- Position: Quarterback
- Height, weight: 6-foot, 211 pounds
- Relative Athletic Score: 4.00
- 2024 salary cap hit: $879,120
- College: Oklahoma, South Carolina
- Drafted: Round 5, No. 150 overall (New Orleans Saints, 2024)
- NFL experience: Rookie
Spencer Rattler is one of the most intriguing stories over recent college football history, going from a player who was once projected to be a No. 1 overall NFL Draft pick to a quarterback who was benched during the season in favor of backup Caleb Williams at Oklahoma.
Williams ultimately went on to fulfill a prophecy that it seemed was originally set for Rattler, winning the Heisman Trophy (an honor Rattler was once considered the early frontrunner for) and going first overall to the Chicago Bears in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Rattler wouldn’t quite reach the same heights, but did get his feet back under him when he joined Shane Beamer in Columbia with the South Carolina Gamecocks, going on to become the Senior Bowl MVP during offseason showcases.
The signal-caller got better in his own right in a way that wasn’t always noticed because of the subpar offensive line and supporting cast he was surrounded by. South Carolina as a whole looked lackluster when it finished out the 2023 season with a 5-7 overall record, but Rattler didn’t, ending out the year with a 68.9% completion rate, 3,186 passing yards, 19 touchdowns and 8 interceptions.
Up next, Rattler will continue battling another former Senior Bowl MVP in ex-Fresno State quarterback Jake Haener for the backup position. Haener has somewhat of an edge intellectually, given that he’s spent one year in the Saints offense, though some may argue it is Rattler who has the higher ceiling and upside.
Heading into that opportunity, Rattler has full confidence in himself.
“I can make any throw on the field. I’m a quick learner, fast processor and can get in and out of the huddle and move the team,” Rattler told me in January. He continued, “I’m just confident in my ability. I, humbly, believe I can stack up against anybody. I truly believe that.”
