ESPN’s Chris Low released a piece on Friday morning, titled Spencer Rattler gets fresh start with Gamecocks at South Carolina, and it dives a little bit deeper into the former Sooner quarterback’s outlook on 2022 from Columbia, South Carolina.
The South Carolina Gamecocks transfer quarterback says getting out of a “toxic situation” at Oklahoma following the 2021 season was a necessity to improve his career trajectory.
“A lot of guys don’t get another chance, to start over where they’re really wanted,” Rattler told ESPN. “I was just happy to get away from a toxic situation and get somewhere new. Anywhere was going to be better, and I found the right place.”
Rattler was benched by Lincoln Riley early on last season in favor of freshman Caleb Williams and never regained his starting spot. Riley and Williams have both since taken their talents to USC.
Rattler, who was doused with preseason Heisman buzz ahead of his 2021 campaign, entered the portal in November and announced soon thereafter that South Carolina would be his landing spot.
“That will be a story for later,” Rattler said when asked to elaborate on Oklahoma’s toxicity. “I don’t want to get too in-depth with it, but it was out of my control. All I can tell you is that we were undefeated at the time I was benched. We won a championship the year before and were going to win another one. I could go on and on.
“We had a great summer and then once the season started, we had a competitive first couple of games and didn’t play up to par. I just feel like we weren’t given enough time to jell together during the season. Triggers were pulled too quick, and because of that, we lost two games and didn’t win another championship.
“But, like I said, that was out of my control. I gave my all with my teammates and for the real coaches up there.”
The former five-star signee with the Sooners finished the 2021 season with 1,483 passing yards and 11 passing touchdowns, and five interceptions.
