Redshirt senior quarterback Spencer Rattler announced via social media on Wednesday that he will be declaring for the 2024 NFL Draft, forgoing his final year of college eligibility.
"These two years have by far been the best times of my football life," Rattler said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. "The relationships made with my teammates, the big wins together, and getting to experience this great city of Columbia and the best fan base in college football each and every weekend."
Rattler completed 539 of 798 passes for 6,212 yards, 37 touchdowns and 20 interceptions in his two seasons with the Gamecocks. His final stats at South Carolina rank fifth in career passing yards in school history and ninth in career passing touchdowns.
He was crucial in leading the Gamecocks to an 8-5 record with late-season wins over then-No. 5 Tennessee and then-No. 7 Clemson in 2022. Rattler threw for 438 yards and six touchdowns against the Volunteers and followed up with a 360-yard, two-touchdown performance against the Tigers.
Rattler improved in his second season with South Carolina, throwing for 3,186 yards with 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions. However, the Gamecocks were not able to capitalize on Rattler's improved performance, going 5-7 and failing to earn bowl eligibility for the first time since Shane Beamer took over as head football coach in 2021.
Rattler started his career at Oklahoma and played for the Sooners for parts of three seasons before transferring to South Carolina. He was Oklahoma's starting quarterback in 2020, leading the team to a Big 12 Championship and win in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl against Florida. The Sooners ended the season ranked No. 6 in the AP Poll.
Rattler only played nine games in the 2021 season, starting in six, but lost the starting quarterback job to current Southern California quarterback Caleb Williams in the second quarter of Oklahoma's game against Texas. Rattler entered the transfer portal later that year and landed at South Carolina for his final two seasons.
The 2024 NFL Draft will be held outside the Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza in Detroit, Michigan, from April 25-27. Rattler will be joined in the draft pool by sixth-year running back Dakereon Joyner, who also announced he would declare for the draft on Wednesday.