Coming out of Pinnacle High School in the 2019 class, Rattler was a five-star recruit and the No. 1 pro-style QB, according to 247Sports’ composite rankings. As such, the Arizona native had no shortage of suitors, including Alabama, Texas, and Notre Dame.
But with Lincoln Riley producing back-to-back Heisman Winners and No. 1 overall draft picks in Baker Mayfield (2017) and Kyler Murray (2018), Rattler chose to join the Sooners.
He sat behind Jalen Hurts in 2019 as the former Alabama QB revitalized his career and took Oklahoma all the way to the College Football Playoff. But in 2020, Rattler took the baton and proved there would be no fall-off at the position.
After throwing for 3,031 yards and 28 touchdowns with just seven interceptions, he finished as a Freshman All-American, first-team All-Big 12, Co-Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, and first-team Academic All-Big 12, for good measure.
Entering that offseason as a redshirt sophomore, Rattler was a common fixture atop way-too-early 2022 NFL mock drafts (including from yours truly). Yet, after leading the Sooners to a 5-0 record to begin the 2021 season, Riley opted to hand the reigns to Williams against Texas in Week 6 to spark the offense, and they never looked back.
With Williams cemented as the starter by the end of the season, Rattler opted to enter the transfer portal, tabbing South Carolina as his next destination. At the 2024 NFL Combine, he reflected on the decision, saying, “Coach Beamer — he’s a great guy, wanted to play for somebody like that. The university, the fanbase — everything — the conference, I mean, closest thing to the NFL, wanted to be ready for this step.”
MORE: 2024 SEC Transfer Portal Rankings
Rattler’s first season in South Carolina didn’t do much to regain favor among draft analysts, as he completed 66% of his passes for 3,026 yards, 18 TDs, and 12 INTs. Nevertheless, it was his first year in an entirely new system with a new cast around him.
In his final campaign, Rattler turned back the clock and showcased a more refined version of his game, increasing his completion rate by nearly 3%, tossing 60 more yards, one more TD, and four fewer picks. Rattler credited Gamecocks offensive coordinator and QBs coach Dowell Loggins for the improvements: “Coach Dowell Loggins, when he came in 2023, I mean, that took my game to the next level I felt like.”
And while Rattler has said and done all the right things in the leadup to the 2024 NFL Draft, including putting on a show at the Senior Bowl, the noticeable growth off the field has analysts and fans buzzing.
