No Nebraska Mention
Destinations to know for Oklahoma transfer QB Spencer Rattler
ByCHRIS HUMMER
One of the biggest transfer pieces of the offseason is now officially in play with
Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler announcing his intent to enter the transfer portal.
While the former five-star prospect and No. 1 overall QB in the 2019 class lost his job at Oklahoma this year, he’s still expected to have high-profile suitors in the transfer portal. Rattler has thrown for 4595 yards, 40 touchdowns against 12 interceptions and completed 70.1% of passes in his career.
The 6-foot-1, 200-pound Rattler will be only a redshirt junior in 2022. He technically has three more years of college football left to play due to the 2020 COVID waiver granted to all FBS players. However, Rattler is expected to look for a short-term destination where he can restore his NFL Draft stock.
These are teams that make sense for Rattler in 2022 base, some based on info and others included based on common sense.
ARIZONA STATE SUN DEVILS
This is the most natural fit, though the presence of Jayden Daniels complicates things. Daniels, a former elite recruit himself, can return for a fourth season in 2022. But perhaps a change of scenery would be good for both. Daniels regressed as a junior, throwing more interceptions (9) than touchdowns (8). Rattler grew up just minutes away from Tempe in Pinnacle, Arizona. A return home would give both Rattler and the Sun Devils a jolt.
TEXAS A&M AGGIES
This is more of a connecting-the-dots inclusion, but why wouldn’t Texas A&M attempt to upgrade at QB? The Aggies have a championship-worthy roster but have a question mark at QB between Haynes King, who’s coming off a season-ending injury, and Zach Calzada. Rattler would be an immediate upgrade over both and could lift Texas A&M’s ceiling with his accuracy and ability to consistently push the ball downfield.
OLE MISS REBELS
While Dillon Gabriel has been connected to Ole Miss – Jeff Lebby served as Gabriel’s OC at UCF – it’s also worth mentioning Rattler as a potential replacement for Matt Corral. If Rattler wanted the friendliest possible path to the NFL, Ole Miss would be the best place to start. Lebby and Lane Kiffin’s system almost guarantees elite numbers for its QB and there’s plenty of offensive talent around the QB in Oxford.
OREGON DUCKS
An Arizona native, there’s a decent chance Rattler heads back to the West Coast for his next stop. Oregon makes a ton of sense if so. The future of the Ducks’ QB room is true freshman Ty Thompson, but adding Rattler for a year would give Oregon a bridge until Thompson is fully ready to go. Rattler would give the Ducks a dose of accuracy and the ability to consistently stretch the field in a way Anthony Brown could not. I will say, though, that the risk of losing Thompson might not be worth adding Rattler.
LSU TIGERS
Someone is going to get hired at LSU, and that coach will have a decision to make at QB. Max Johnson has shown promise, but there's talk he could be looking to transfer as well. Rattler would give whoever lands in Baton Rouge a quarterback to build around in Year 1. Rattler, meanwhile, would benefit from a lot of skill talent and a SEC schedule to prove himself against.
ARIZONA WILDCATS
Arizona is Rattler’s home state and the Wildcats do need a quarterback in the worst way. But would Rattler want to join a rebuilding project? Probably not. But Arizona needs to be included here due to its proximity to his hometown.
TCU HORNED FROGS
A bit of a curveball, but Sonny Dykes is bringing a new system to Fort Worth that Max Duggan might not be the best fit for. If Dykes is looking for an immediate upgrade at the position, he could do a lot worse than Rattler. The Horned Frogs have skill talent, a friendly offensive system and could potentially provide Rattler a path for a little on-field revenge.