Despite a stellar college career and high expectations, former quarterback Spencer Rattler had to wait until the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft to hear his name called, sparking criticism from his former coach, Shane Beamer, who denounced the unfavorable narratives and scouting reports that contributed to his draft slide.
Former South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback Spencer Rattler defied the odds by landing in the NFL despite a fifth-round draft selection, a testament to his unwavering determination and resilience.
Beamer, Rattler's former coach at both South Carolina and Oklahoma, expressed his displeasure with the quarterback's lower draft position, attributing it to biased scouting reports and pre-draft narratives.
"Such a tired, lazy narrative. And bullcrap," Beamer wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. "None of the NFL teams that called me said that."
Beamer highlighted Rattler's exceptional leadership qualities and praised his character as a "great person" and "great player." He emphasized that Rattler's teammates had voted him team captain for two consecutive years, a testament to his respect and influence within the squad.
Analysts and mock drafts had projected Rattler as a second or third-round pick, underscoring the surprise and disappointment that accompanied his lower draft position.
Rattler, however, remained unfazed, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to join the NFL regardless of the round.
"I knew we were waiting around a day or two but I had faith that I would be picked today," Rattler said after being drafted by the New Orleans Saints. "I was very happy the Saints came and picked me, what a great feeling."
Despite his high school accolades, Rattler's appearance on the Netflix docuseries "QB1: Beyond the Lights" was cited by NFL Network's Ian Rapoport as a potential factor influencing his draft slide.
Rapoport revealed that several teams mentioned Rattler's portrayal on the reality show, expressing concern about the image it presented.
Regardless of the challenges he faced, Rattler's college football career was impressive. He played for Oklahoma and South Carolina, accumulating 10,807 passing yards and 77 touchdowns.
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