The newly drafted gunslinger is ready to display his athleticism in the Black and Gold.
The New Orleans Saints got a steal when they selected South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler with the No. 150 pick in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
From his arm talent to his rushing ability, the young gunslinger from Phoenix, Arizona, has a plethora of impressive skills that will prove useful for the Saints on the gridiron in the future.
Not to mention, Rattler has faced his fair share of adversity along the way.
Coming out of Pinnacle High School in Phoenix, Rattler strung together highlight-worthy performances week after week — leading him to a state record 11,083 yards while also scoring 130 total touchdowns in his career.
From there, it was time to kick off his collegiate career at Oklahoma. As a freshman, Rattler collected numerous honors including becoming the second Sooner quarterback in program history to receive FWAA Freshman All-American honors.
The sky seemed to be the limit for Rattler in Norman, Oklahoma, but newly signed freshman Caleb Williams entered the fray to compete for the starting job against him in Norman. The Sooner fanbase soon favored the fresh face after the quarterback competition was all said and done. Rattler finished his career in the Big 12 Conference with 4,514 passing yards and 39 touchdowns.
As a junior, Rattler decided to transfer to South Carolina. The talented signal-caller was soon beloved by the fanbase for his incredible, historic performances against top teams like Tennessee and Clemson, which put South Carolina on the map as a program on the rise. During his career as a Gamecock, Rattler finished fifth in program history with 6,212 passing yards and ninth in school history with 37 passing touchdowns.
Now, the athletic quarterback from Phoenix is ready to make his stamp in Black and Gold.
Rattler has come a long way from where he started. During his time at OU, many members of the Sooner fanbase and media considered him as a bust. Once again, Rattler has the opportunity to prove those who doubted him along the way wrong.
One of Rattler’s many impressive qualities are his ability to track down his reads quickly and have a fast release in an RPO (Run-play-option) system, which just happens to be a key part of Saints head coach Dennis Allen’s offense.
Rattler does not crack under pressure. He’s able to read through his progressions and give his receivers time to create space. The talented gunslinger carries confidence in the pocket and can maneuver around in the backfield when under pressure to create exhilarating plays.
Rattler has all the tools needed to solidify himself as one of the best quarterbacks in this year’s stacked draft class. His ability to look pressure in the face and complete on-target throws to his receivers is of the utmost importance when transitioning from facing collegiate defenses to NFL defenses.
Before Rattler kicks off his rookie year, he took part in the NFL’s Player Association Rookie Premier photoshoot in Los Angeles, California. The NFLPA took pictures of this year’s draft class in their new uniforms as they gear up for their first season playing in the NFL.
As Rattler learns and develops under the Saints offense and veterans like starting quarterback Derek Carr, the rookie will continue to improve his abilities on the gridiron. Saints fans should be on the lookout for this talented rookie in the future.
