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As NIL and transfer portal use becomes more prevalent in college football, seeing a player compete at two, and sometime even three different programs is becoming the new norm. That’s the case for Spencer Rattler, who just wrapped up his NCAA career and now has eyes set on the NFL.
With the never-ending changes of scenery come a variety of different fandoms as supporters of those schools attempt to “claim” players as being their own.
We see it often – Joe Burrow and Jalen Hurts are just a few to come to mind, and Rattler could soon see the issue should he experience NFL success!
Spencer Rattler suited up for Oklahoma before transferring to South Carolina, but only one university will have the honor of being alma mater.
Rattler landed in Norman with tons of hype. Being named the top signal caller in his high school class, he was expected to come in early and compete for immediate playing time.
That would be the case as he took over the starting role in 2020 as a redshirt freshman, leading the Sooners to a 9-2 record.
Unfortunately, his sophomore season didn’t go quite according to plan. Benched midway through the year for superstar Caleb Williams, Rattler suddenly found himself out of a job and in the transfer portal.
He decided to sign with South Carolina, playing out his final two seasons in the SEC. His time in Columbia was filled with highs, including a pair of Top 10 upsets at the end of the 2022 regular season, and lows – failing to reach a bowl game after a five-win senior campaign.
While he spent more time on the Oklahoma campus, he’d like to be defined by his play with the Gamecocks.
Under Shane Beamer’s leadership, he was able to not only post career-highs in passing, but also buck the narrative of being a problem child.
That production, combined with the supposed attitude adjustment, has him quickly climbing draft boards.
His character was on full display at last week’s Senior Bowl, an opportunity that only continued to boost his NFL stock. When his name inevitably comes across those loudspeakers on draft day, he knows which school he’ll be representing.
.@SpencerRattler will also be representing South Carolina after getting a new tattoo of the Gamecock Block C
🎥: marcus_thurman/IG pic.twitter.com/fA8KJzak12
— Mike Uva (@Mike_Uva) February 8, 2024
Rattler cemented that loyalty with a tattoo this week – a block C to show his Gamecock love.
It’s not unexpected given his past commentary on the topic. In an interview this past offseason, he said he hopes Oklahoma fans don’t try to claim him in the NFL.
His stance obviously hasn’t changed!
When you see Rattler announcing his school in future football broadcasts, you know which program he’ll be repping.