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Spencer Rattler is wrapping up his senior season at South Carolina, but he still has one year of eligibility remaining. The Gamecock quarterback teased a potential return to Columbia, leaving the door ever-so-slightly cracked on a college football comeback.
Rattler is in the midst of Year 5, splitting time between South Carolina and Oklahoma. Though he’s seen the field in four full seasons, the 2020 COVID year isn’t held against his amateur status.
He was asked about the possibility of foregoing the NFL Draft for one final NCAA go-round in a press conference this week. He responded, “You never know,” with his professional decision looming.
“Right now, I’m focused on the (Clemson) game,” the signal caller said. “It could be my last time out there (as a college QB), but you never know, I’ve got another year of eligibility as well. Ready to finish out the season strong.”
South Carolina got good news on the return of star pass catcher Juice Wells, who’s been sidelined with a foot injury since Week 3. Is it enough to sway Spencer Rattler into a return?
Probably not.
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The quarterback has already accepted an invite to the Senior Bowl, and he’s projected to be selected in the upcoming draft.
Of course, there is much competition in this year’s class, which is headlined by former Oklahoma teammate Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, Michael Penix, and Jayden Daniels.
Spencer Rattler isn’t the only top QB making a draft decision.
There are some big names in the 2024 NFL Draft class, and it could lead some of the nation’s top signal callers to stick around campus for one more year.
Possible 1st round QBs now
Drake Maye
Caleb Williams
Jayden Daniels
Michael Penix
Carson Beck
JJ McCarthy
Shedeur Sanders— Clint Brewster (@clintbrew247) November 12, 2023
Quinn Ewers, Shedeur Sanders, and Carson Beck immediately come to mind.
Ewers seems to be leaning towards a return to Texas. The former top overall recruit currently has the Longhorns sitting at 10-1, poised to make a College Football Playoff appearance.
While a national championship is still attainable for Ewers, he doesn’t seem to have built first-round stock in his redshirt sophomore season.
Sanders, meanwhile, might have that top grade from NFL scouts, though draft guru Mel Kiper believes another year at Colorado would be beneficial. Kiper is on record saying Sanders would be the top overall pick in 2025 should he play out his senior season.
Coach Prime appears to have a plan in place for his son to return to Boulder next year.
As for Beck, he’s blossomed into a star at Georgia, and boasts prototypical size at 6-4, 215-pounds. He also plays in a pro-style offense that could be beneficial at the next level.
Still, he doesn’t even have a full year of starting experience under his belt. He has not made a decision one way or the other.
Now, back to Spencer Rattler.
He’s on pace for his best statistical season to date, having thrown for 19 touchdowns and more than 3,000 yards. His stock might not get much higher than it is now, especially if he can lead the Gamecocks to a second straight upset of Clemson.
Rattler hinted that it could be his last college game – and that could be the case if South Carolina loses on Saturday. At 5-7, a bowl game would likely be out of the question.
Win or lose, the chances of seeing him back in Columbia next season are slim, but as the quarterback said, you never know.