David Levine
Posts: 77938
Joined: 7/14/2007
From: Las Vegas
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Not great numbers, but he sounds like he has potential:
DRAFT PROFILE: BIO
Spencer Rattler emerged as a prominent figure in high school football, amassing over 11,000 passing yards. His skills in the field caught national attention, and he became a centerpiece of the Netflix series QB1. As the most sought-after recruit of the 2017 class, he had multiple offers but ultimately chose the Oklahoma Sooners to kick off his college career.
In 2019, Rattler's freshman year at Oklahoma, he saw limited action, participating in just three games and accumulating 81 passing yards. However, his potential shone through in 2020, a standout year for him. As the Sooners' starting quarterback, he played in 11 games, notched 3,031 passing yards, and threw 28 TDs, with a strong QB rating of 118.4. This remarkable performance earned him multiple awards, including being named the national freshman of the year by CBS Sports.
2021 presented challenges for Rattler. Despite a promising start to the season, he faced setbacks, notably being benched following turnovers in the game against Texas. The year culminated with him accruing 1,483 passing yards and 11 TDs. Subsequent to these events and looking for a fresh start, Rattler made the decision to transfer to South Carolina.
At South Carolina in 2022, Rattler was handed the starting quarterback position, he played 12 games, recording 2,791 yards, 16 TDs, and a QB rating of 91.9.
In his fifth year in 2023, He put up better numbers although still not close to his best while at Oklahoma. With 3183 yards, 19 TDs, and 8 interceptions.
SCOUTING REPORT: STRENGTHS
• Hugely experienced prospect, with over 1,300 passes attempted in four years as a starter - has successfully dealt with adversity and challenges throughout his college career
• Has excellent overall arm strength you would expect a consensus five-star prospect
• Is excellent when on the move and has the arm talent to make throws most college-level QBs wouldn't even attempt
• Despite being viewed as a mobile quarterback Rattler is skilled as a pocket passer and has a nice feel for pressure
• Sprays the ball anywhere on the field, especially when given a pocket from which to deliver. Will step up into pocket while looking downfield, reset his feet and deliver.
• Ball placement is a strength. Rattler has the natural instincts to make plays when forced to improvise.
• Generally accurate on intermediate and short throws; flashes anticipation and placement on intermediate outs and shows the ability to lead receivers on deeper throws.
• Good zip and ball placement on the quick slant. Good touch down the seam and on post-corner, flag routes to attack the defense vertically and horizontally.
• He’s a pure athlete, loose-limbed and flexible. Rattler has the speed to pick up yardage in scramble situations
• A standout natural athlete, Spencer Rattler showcases impeccable balance, light-footed mobility, and an innate ability to float seamlessly within the pocket, eluding defenders.
• Rattler's versatility is evident as he is both a proficient pocket passer and equally effective on the move, consistently keeping his eyes downfield and sensing impending pressure.
• In the realm of short to intermediate throws, Rattler excels, exhibiting an anticipation that allows him to lead receivers effectively, setting them up for optimal yards after the catch.
• One of his standout traits is a rapid release, coupled with the capability to throw from a variety of arm angles, making him a multifaceted and unpredictable threat.
• Even in off-balance situations or while on the move, Rattler's throws are marked by impressive velocity and pinpoint accuracy, testament to his exceptional arm talent.
SCOUTING REPORT: WEAKNESSES
• At 6-1 and roughly 215 pounds, Rattler doesn't fit the ideal QB mold
• Notably, his pocket composure falters under duress. He exhibits a tendency to throw off his back foot and overly relies on his arm strength during on-the-move passes, which often compromises accuracy.
• Mechanical inconsistencies were glaring in 2021. While capable of standout plays, his footwork and release were unreliable and often detracted from his performance on-field.
• Questions linger regarding his football acumen. For NFL standards, Rattler has yet to solidly exhibit the decision-making finesse and high-caliber football IQ expected at the professional level.
• Field vision remains an area of contention. Rattler's penchant for locking onto primary targets, even when alternative options are evident, raises concerns about his ability to effectively navigate complex defensive schemes.
• Once considered a promising possible generational talent after a banner year in 2020, he's never returned to that playing level and many scouts consider the 2023 performance his ceiling
SCOUTING REPORT: SUMMARY
Spencer Rattler's collegiate journey is one for the books. From being celebrated as the potential top prospect in the entire draft to facing being benched and being forced to transfer, his path hasn't been exactly linear. Rattler's arm, often drawing comparisons to the likes of Mahomes for its sheer elite prowess, showcases his potential. Yet, lapses in on-field decision-making cast shadows on his NFL readiness.
Today's NFL quarterback is expected to make swift decisions, possess a dual-threat capability, and demonstrate a rapid release. Rattler certainly impresses with his release and innate accuracy. However, when juxtaposed with these modern expectations, some facets of his game fall short. His stature and limited athleticism further compound these challenges.
Rattler remains an enigma in the 2024 NFL Draft discussions. His raw ability hints at a first-round pick, but gameplay inconsistencies beg to differ. We were hoping that in 2023 he would rebound and show the kind of form that was evident in his huge year for Oklahoma in 2020, but despite some minor improvements, we saw none of that big jump that scouts were looking for.
There is no doubt that Rattler has the requisite physical tools to be a star at the next level but it's difficult to give a top grade to a prospect whose best football was played more than three years ago. While many pro teams view him as having first-round upside (which he undoubtedly does), most teams will be looking at him as a prospect with too many inconsistencies to take any higher than the third round.
NOTE:
After running a statistical comparison Rattler's statistics both in terms of on-field production and physicals are almost identical to the Niner's Brock Purdy, in fact at this point the only obvious difference between the two is Rattler's much stronger arm. We're not suggesting that Rattler is a shoo-in for the league MVP in his second year as a pro but it's worth noting for those teams looking to find a future starter outside the first round.
https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/Player/Spencer-Rattler-QB-Oklahoma
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