'He's a competitor': Spencer Rattler continuing to play his best in November
There’s just something that clicks for Spencer Rattler in the month of November. When the lights are the brightest, he’s shown up big for South Carolina.
In 11 November games throughout his career, Rattler has completed 70 percent of his passes for 2,644 yards, 23 touchdowns and five interceptions. He’s also rushed for five touchdowns.
Gamecock fans got to see that strong play first hand last year and now he’s doing it again this year.
“Those games last year in November were big games on a national stage,” head coach Shane Beamer said. “This month, the magnitude of the games continues to bigger as we’ve won. Last week, national television against a really good Kentucky team, this week, national television against a really good Clemson team. Spencer’s just a competitor that tends to rise to the occasion the bigger the moment.”
So far this season, Rattler has been pretty consistent. He’s thrown for 3,074 yards with 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions. There have been seven games where he’s completed more than 70 percent of his passes.
But just like last year, Rattler has cranked up the heat at the right time. In the three games this month, he’s completed 73.3 percent of his passes for seven touchdowns and three interceptions. Plus, every game so far this month has been at Williams-Brice Stadium, which is an underrated advantage.
“Towards the month of November, you want to play your best ball. That is when it counts the most. I feel like you have to rise to the moment,” Rattler said. “I feel like as a group, we have done a good job in these first three games. Obviously, we have a big task here on Saturday. We have to finish the month out right.”
What Rattler is referring to on Saturday is the biggest game of the year. The one that people will remember him for most if he can come through once again. Clemson.
Against the Tigers last year, Rattler completed 25-of-39 passes for 360 yards and two touchdowns. He also threw two interceptions, one of which was a pick six. But at the end of the day, he did enough good things to help the Gamecocks beat their arch rival for the first time since 2013.
Just about a year since that game, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney has come to realize just how good Rattler is. He called him “an explosive player.”
“He doesn’t just sit in the pocket very often. It’s swop boots, setting edges and tight ends creating edges for him to extend the play,” Swinney said. “If you give him time, he is incredibly accurate and can make all the throws. He doesn’t get enough credit for his running ability. He’s a smart runner. He can go. They’re smart. They don’t just leave him in the pocket, they will max-protect. They run a lot of deep-shot, cross country, posts. Those things take time.
“He can throw it on the run or pull up and let it go. I think he’s a very good player. He has made good decisions. He creates a problem for you with his legs and his arm. Similar to Drake Maye who we just played.”
With how well Ratter’s been playing in November, it would be hard not to expect him to have another big game. And Beamer has no doubt he’ll be just fine this weekend.
“He’s just a guy that continues to work. He doesn’t get too high, he doesn’t get too low,” Beamer said. “He’s constantly trying to improve. Even though it’s game 12, there’s still things that he can be doing better. He knows that. Just continue to work on those things. And he’s a competitor. So that’s probably the one thing that jumps out. He’s a competitor.”
