South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler found himself in the spotlight this past Saturday during the Gamecocks showdown against Tennessee.
Facing a raucous crowd at Neyland Stadium where Vols fans were hungry for revenge over last year’s nightmare loss, Rattler was largely a deer-in-the-headlights and Tennessee let him hear it.
Rattler struggled (24-35, 169 yards, 1 interception) as the Gamecocks fell 41-20 to their SEC rivals.
After the game, Rattler faced the music but made sure to give a little shot of his own at the Vols and their fans.
“That was our first test where they kind of matched how we’ve been playing, and credit to them. They did a great job … It was like their Super Bowl tonight, so congrats to them.”
Rattler, a former five-star prospect who began his college career at Oklahoma, had an outstanding performance against the Vols last year, throwing for 438 yards and six touchdowns.
Tennessee fans seemed to have their sights set on him from the start on Saturday night, and he couldn’t help but notice the chants directed at him.
“Great environment,” he said. “You know, I must be doing something right if they keep saying that the whole night … So, like I say, if you ain’t got haters, you ain’t poppin’.”
"If you ain’t got haters, you ain’t popping."
Spencer Rattler following the game when asked if he heard chants from Tennessee fans:
He added: “It was like their Super Bowl tonight, so congrats to them." @WLTX | #Gamecocks pic.twitter.com/3fuEFvXhHH
— Chandler Mack (@chandlerdmack) October 1, 2023
Despite taking the light-hearted jab at Tennessee’s fans, Rattler was complimentary of the way the Vols defended South Carolina’s offense, which managed just 333 total yards.
“Credit to them. They did a great job schematic-wise,” Rattler commented. “I mean, they took away some of our best weapons … They were in good coverage a lot of the time. D-line’s really talented – twitchy guys. They had a good scheme.”
Rattler acknowledged that some of Tennessee’s sacks “were just coverage sacks with nothing there,” explaining that he was “just trying to extend the play” in certain situations.
He also praised the Vols for effectively limiting South Carolina’s leading receiver, Xavier Legette, to just five catches for 50 yards.
Legette had entered Saturday’s game with 27 catches for 556 yards and three touchdowns through the Gamecocks’ first four games of the season.
“They took him away the whole game,” Rattler said of the Vols’ defense against Legette.
“Other than some mesh routes, they were clouding him the whole time, pushing the safety over top so he couldn’t do much.”
“They took him away, and it definitely hurt us. I have to be better finding other guys. They have to step up, and I believe in them. We’re going to keep working.”
What did you make of the game?
What do you think about Rattler as a quarterback?
Do you think he has a promising future at the next level?