The South Carolina football program made a huge splash in the transfer portal earlier this offseason by landing former five-star signal caller Spencer Rattler. Rattler, a transfer from Oklahoma, entered the 2021 campaign as a Heisman favorite and potential first-round NFL Draft selection.
Unfortunately, things didn’t quite go according to plan.
Despite posting decent numbers and winning each of his five starts, the gunslinger was benched. When the season ended, Rattler entered the transfer portal, eventually reuniting with former Sooner assistant coach Shane Beamer.
The move to Columbia immediately improved the quarterback situation at South Carolina, with some debating whether or not the Gamecocks now have the top passer in the SEC East.
Is Spencer Rattler the best QB in the SEC East? @rivalsmike thinks so: https://t.co/JKAYpJj8ck
— Rivals (@Rivals) December 16, 2021
Recent movement from one of Rattler’s former teammates (or adversaries?) could soon change that status.
Quarterback Caleb Williams, who replaced Rattler under center in Norman last year, entered his name into the transfer portal yesterday.
Big transfer portal news: Oklahoma star QB Caleb Williams is entering the portal, he announced
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) January 3, 2022
https://t.co/St4ensmRGU
Future Rattler vs. Williams Matchup on Tap for South Carolina Football?
While he’s said that staying at Oklahoma is an option, there is a possibility that Williams leaves the program. The hottest and maybe most obvious landing spot for the rising sophomore would be Southern Cal. The Trojans hired head coach Lincoln Riley away from the Sooners at the end of last season so there’s already a relationship intact.
Other options include UCLA, Oregon, and Ole Miss. All make sense in their own way, but a big-time SEC power has now entered the conversation.
Hearing from multiple sources Georgia is the top landing spot unless they get outbid. Will be ripple effect at Georgia like Ohio St if it happens.
— Blake Brockermeyer (@BBrockermeyerFW) January 3, 2022
OU will get a dude, great opportunity to shine under Jeff Lebby.
Ole miss same under Kiffin. https://t.co/tt9EpsSZnm
The Georgia Bulldogs are now being named as a potential landing spot for the talented signal caller. Williams would potentially battle it out with Stetson Bennett, JT Daniels, and incoming five-star freshman Gunner Stockton in the Bulldogs quarterback room.
Should the move happen, it’s a starting job that Williams is likely to win.
What that could do is set up a possible showdown between the two Oklahoma-turned-SEC gunslingers in Williams and Rattler.
That’s primetime television at its best.
The storylines would be insane. Does Rattler get his revenge? A battle to be the best? Does a true hatred exist between the former teammates?
Quarterbacks Caleb Williams and Spencer Rattler were in a tough spot with Oklahoma football, so the nature of their relationship is hardly surprising.https://t.co/pZj2iVvu87
— FanSided College (@FanSidedU) December 16, 2021
Of course, these are all hypotheticals… for now. It will be interesting to see where the star signal caller winds up but if he lands in the SEC East, the future battles would be highly entertaining. We can only hope!