College Football Fix: Spencer Rattler, South Carolina QB

We miss college football. Bennett takes the snap and the shotgun throws for the corner.

Brock Bowers one on one. Caught. Touchdown.

He ate him alive. Falls down into the end zone. Six more for Georgia. We can't wait for the 2023 season. Caleb Williams throws the fade in the corner.

Touchdown Trojans. And we're counting down the days to kick off. Are we there yet? No. Are we there yet? I said no. Are we there yet?

What's wrong with your ears? Here is your college football fix. Only on the Zach Gelb show.

That's right. It is the Zach Gelb show coast to coast on CBS Sports Radio. Five days away from South Carolina against North Carolina. 730 p.m. Eastern. Spencer Rattler against Drake May on ABC.

We can't wait for that big showdown at Bank of America Stadium. And now joining us is Spencer Rattler, the quarterback at South Carolina. Kind enough to jump on board with us on CBS Sports Radio. Spencer, always appreciate the time. How you been? I've been great. Thanks for having me.

Well, thanks so much for coming on. So you guys really finished the season on a high note. Taken down two top ten teams in Tennessee and then also Clemson.

You played sensational. When you look back at your one for you coming over from Oklahoma, playing at South Carolina. How do you kind of recap last season? You know, last year, you know, we did finish out the season very strong. But, you know, we had a lot of high points during the season as well.

Doing a lot of things for the first time. Beating Kentucky for one of the first times in a while. And I know statistically it wasn't the best for our offense, but, you know, we found a way to win.

And you're right. The end of the season, you know, we figured out what works for us. We did what we did and finished out strong. What's been the vibe?

I always liked Shane Beamer. I think his just personality is infectious and he always has high energy. But what has been the vibe around this program during the offseason as you guys get ready to kick off coming up in five days from now? Another season of Gamecock football. Yeah, just a lot of excitement in the city of Columbia, you know, and for the right reasons, you know, Coach Beamer's got this program headed in the right direction.

You know, but the vibe has just been in the work. I mean, we've been head down grinding, I mean, every single day throughout this summer. Stacking these days together and getting that chemistry down and we're looking great right now. Your offensive coordinator a year ago, Marcus Satterfield, departed to join Matt Ruhl's staff at Nebraska. Now, Dowell Loggins comes in. How has the offense been looking and what has Dowell really been to this football team? I've been loving what Dowell's doing with our group.

I mean, we're jelling so quick. Everybody picked up the playbook fast and, you know, what we're doing is just, it plays to our strengths really well. And, you know, like he said, he kind of wants me to be a point guard out there just dishing.

So, I love what he's doing. I love his confidence in us and it's going to be fun on Saturday. When you say play to those strengths, if someone hasn't seen your game or if someone hasn't seen this offense in the summer, what do you kind of anticipate the offense to look like?

Yeah, you know, I can't give you too much on that. But, you know, just getting the ball to our playmakers, you know, it's as simple as that. You know, get the ball in the hands of the guys that make plays and they'll make plays for you.

Obviously, you know, got to protect up front, be able to run the ball. But, you know, we got to hit on all cylinders. So, you know, we've been clicking on every part, putting everything together and I think you guys will like what you see on Saturday. Yeah, I was talking to your coach a few months ago, Shane Beamer, Spencer Rattler. And he said the sky's the limit for you this year individually.

Do you kind of feel that as well? You know, I'm confident as ever right now. You know, it comes from our coaching staff, what they've been doing with us this offseason, you know, how we're looking at the group. You know, I'm confident in not just me, but our whole group.

You know, I want us to be one of the most explosive offenses in the country. So that's going to be our plan moving forward this year. At the end of the year, Spencer, how do you hope we're talking about you and the program?

You know, everything will take care of itself. I like to say, you know, if we all succeed as a team, everybody will have their own personal success. So I think that's what's so special about, you know, this program is we care about winning number one overall and turning this program around like we've been doing.

And if we take care of that, everybody's personal goals will fall in line. I'm just wondering, and last year when I talked to you, I thought you were in a good spot. You sound like you're in a great spot now. But with the ups and downs of playing this sport, just mentally, where are you at with all that has happened in your college career?

Mentally, amazing right now. I mean, just 100 percent. And then coming back, what kind of factored into that decision to give it another go at South Carolina? You know, I feel like we just left something on the table. You know, I feel like we could have won a few more games last year that we let slip out of our hands.

And, you know, not just me, but Juice and some other guys wanted to come back, added some key transfers as well. So, you know, we're trying to do special things this year. And for me, you know, I have a chance to graduate in December. So that was a big reason why I wanted to come back, get that degree.

And, yeah, just left some stuff on the table when I have a big year to deal with the guys. Yeah, I always like to ask this question, and Spencer Rattler is here with us. Clearly, football takes up so much of your life right now. But let's just say if you didn't want to become a football player, what would Spencer Rattler be doing professionally?

That's a great question. Definitely something around the game. You know, I enjoy being around sports. I've always been around sports as a kid. Now, I mean, definitely something around the game on the business side. You know, but hey, Plan A is the NFL.

And, you know, Plan B, that's why I'm getting that degree. Spencer Rattler here with us. So you had a little crossover at Oklahoma with Jalen Hurts, right? Jalen had to transfer as well, and Jalen's been doubted, and now we're seeing what Jalen's doing in the NFL.

He's one of the better quarterbacks and almost won a Super Bowl last year. What do you kind of take from your time being around Jalen Hurts? Yeah, I learned a lot from him, you know. He was like a mentor to me when I was at Oklahoma, just watching how he moved, watching how he led, prepared, everything like that. I learned a lot my freshman year, you know, watching how he worked. And then to see the success that he's having now, knowing all that he had to go through, is that kind of inspiring to you?

I mean, it's awesome for him. You know, everybody's journey's different. You know, he went through a similar journey, you know, I went through, so it's cool to see. But yeah, everybody's, you know, met for a purpose. And, you know, I'm happy for him, and he's definitely at the top of his game right now. Do you guys still keep in touch at all, just wondering?

Here and there, you know, through DM and stuff like that. But, you know, he's very busy, I'm sure, and I am too. Spencer Rattler here with us. So when you take a look at this UNC defense, what are the things that maybe could present some challenges for you guys coming up on Saturday? You know, they're going to try to come out and do some things to slow us down. You know, it might be with blitzing, different looks. But, you know, you've got to be ready for anything.

It could always be a whole different look, so, you know. But the main thing is, focus on what we got going on. You know, execute our plays at a high level, and we'll be all right. And then, you know how this is billed, Spencer Rattler.

You've been around the block before. I know you're going up against their defense, but I haven't said in the intro, everyone's going to be talking about Drake May up against Spencer Rattler. When you look at Drake May's games, you know, just being as a quarterback, what kind of stands out to you about the type of quarterback he is in leader? You know, I got a lot of respect for him. He blew up on the scene last year, had a great, great season. You know, watched the two of his games, very talented player.

Got a lot of respect for him. You know, he's definitely going to, you know, have our hands full on Saturday, so our defense will have to be ready. But, you know, I know everybody's hyping it up.

You know, me versus Drake May, me versus Drake May. But, you know, at the end of the day, my focus is, hey, let's go out here and help my team get in the best position to win. And, you know, that's my main focus, and I'm sure it is too. So I know now as you get closer to the season, right, students start coming back to campus, just not the guys on the football team. What's kind of been the hype around campus and the word around campus, what people are saying to you as you get set to square off against UNC? You know, really, I'm not around campus as much as you think. I live off campus.

I only got one in-person class that actually starts tomorrow. But I know the excitement is high. I know everybody's excited for the game. People that run into the community, they're jacked up for Saturday. A lot of the people will be going down.

So we'll see a lot of garnet in those stands on Saturday. What is it like when Spencer Rattler walks into a classroom on campus at South Carolina? It's fun. You know, a lot of fans obviously in the class.

So it takes time to take a picture, find something for them. So it's all love over here. Let me ask you about Caleb Williams, just because you guys will always be tied together. We now see what Caleb did last year for USC and what he did the other night to try to go get another Heisman Trophy. Do you guys have a relationship, you and Caleb Williams, or not much?

You know, I play at USC, you know, South Carolina, and he plays at Southern California. So, you know, I'm pretty sure we're both focused on our own journey, our own team, and yeah. Well, hey, I appreciate the time. I'll always enjoy catching up with you. Good luck this upcoming season. Hope to do it again real soon. Appreciate it.