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Spencer Rattler, by all accounts, is thriving in his first preseason camp with the New Orleans Saints. The rookie passer may not unseat starter Derek Carr as QB1, but many believe he’ll earn playing time this fall.
Rattler, despite those positive reviews, found a way to enrage the local fanbase this week. It wasn’t his fault, though!
The fifth-round NFL Draft pick was asked about the toughest environments in college football. Going off his own experience at both South Carolina and Oklahoma, he provided the following list.
Spencer Rattler’s toughest CFB venues
- Florida
- Tennessee
- Georgia
- Clemson
- Kansas State
@saints What are the toughest places to play in college football? 🎤 #collegefootball #stadium #nfl #spencerrattler #football #questionoftheday ♬ original sound – New Orleans Saints
That response immediately enraged nearby LSU fans, who believed he was disrespecting Death Valley.
“The correct answer is Death Valley at night.”
The Tigers felt slighted, but there’s a reason for the omission. Rattler never played against LSU!
The gunslinger spent three seasons at Oklahoma before transferring to the SEC. With South Carolina, he typically faced squads from the East, seldomly matching up with cross-division foes.
Though he angered some local fans with that response, he’s done his part to win others over with his preseason performance.
Spencer Rattler is excelling in Saints camp.
@saintsreporterlife Spencer Rattler to Mason Tipton for the touchdown! #Saints #whodatnation #neworleanssaints #whodat ♬ original sound – John Hendrix
The rookie has turned heads thus far, and he seems to be pushing everyone in the QB room.
@straightupsaints Spencer Rattler has a cannon. #neworleanssaints #spencerrattler #nfl #spencerrattler #nfltiktok ♬ Whip It – BigXthaPlug
Saints wideout Chris Olave seems to approve of the pick.
“He’s real talented,” he said in a recent press conference. “That’s the first thing I’ve seen. His arm talent is off the charts, he’s real natural… He’s gonna be real good, I wanna see him in action. From my first impression, I think he’s gonna be a really good player.”
Rattler has backed those claims up in practice.
New Orleans Football contributor Nick Underhill gave a glowing review of his most recent week of practice, noting a 7-for-8 performance in team drills (4 TDs), as well as a 2-for-3 (2 TDs) output in 7-on-7s.
While he’s currently listed at No. 3 on the New Orleans depth chart, some have gone as far as to say he could land the starting job by year’s end.
He’ll have his first chance to showcase his talent to the NFL world in the preseason.