South Carolina Coach Defends Quarterback Rattler’s Late Draft Fall
The 2024 NFL Draft witnessed six quarterbacks being selected in the first round, but former South Carolina Gamecocks standout Spencer Rattler had to endure a longer wait until his name was called in the fifth round. Rattler landed with the New Orleans Saints at the 150th overall pick, much to the dismay of his former coach, Shane Beamer.
Beamer Blasts Draft Narrative
Beamer took to social media, expressing his outrage over Rattler’s draft position. “Such a tired, lazy narrative. And bullcrap!” he wrote. Beamer argued that negative scouting reports and pre-draft narratives contributed to 149 other players being drafted ahead of Rattler.
Highlighting Rattler’s leadership and on-field qualities, Beamer asserted, “None of the NFL teams that called me said that…. And any team that thinks that clearly hasn’t done their research… He’s a great person, and some team is getting a future starter today.”
Rattler’s Path to New Orleans
Some analysts and mock drafts had projected Rattler as a potential second or third-round pick. However, he eventually ended up in the Big Easy, where he will play under the Saints’ recently hired head coach, Sean Payton.
Rattler himself expressed contentment with his eventual destination, stating, “At the end of the day, it’s a blessing to get picked wherever… I was very happy the Saints came and picked me, what a great feeling.”
Reality Show Controversy
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Rattler’s appearance in the Netflix docuseries “QB1: Beyond the Lights” may have played a role in his draft fall. The series, which focused on Rattler’s high school football career, allegedly portrayed him in an unflattering manner.
“It did not make him look great, and it is unbelievable how many different teams mentioned to me the image of him in that show and that they can’t get it out of their heads,” Rapoport said.
Rattler’s college football journey began at Oklahoma before he transferred to South Carolina. He ended his collegiate career with an impressive passing tally of 10,807 yards and 77 touchdowns. Despite his setbacks, Rattler is now eager to make a significant impact with the New Orleans Saints and silence any lingering doubts about his abilities.
Data sourced from: foxnews.com
