2019’s Top Quarterback Recruit to Make First NFL Start

Rookie Spencer Rattler will make his first career start in Week Six. New Orleans Saints starting quarterback Derek Carr sustained an injury in Week Five’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, which paved the way for the 24-year-old. The Saints drafted Rattler with the 150th pick back in April. Assuming Carr will miss more than one week, Rattler will be the youngest quarterback to start multiple games for the Saints since Chase Daniel in 2010.

Carr’s Injury Gives Rattler Chance to Shine

Carr’s last drive went out with a bang; facing an all-out blitz, he tossed the ball down the sideline to undrafted rookie Mason Tipton, who let the ball slip through his hands. After getting up from the hit delivered by Chiefs’ defensive back Chamarri Conner, Carr immediately grabbed his oblique. Second-year quarterback Jake Haener relieved Carr for the final drive for New Orleans, completing two-of-seven passes for 17 yards. After his MRI on Tuesday, it was announced that Carr is expected to miss multiple weeks with his oblique injury. Although Haener got playing time in the primetime game, the Saints elected to give the reins to Rattler.

Netflix Show Impacted Rattler’s Image

Non-casual football fans will likely be familiar with Rattler. The young signal-caller first appeared on televisions around the country back in 2019, starring in QB1: Beyond the Lights. The Netflix docuseries focused on three high school senior quarterbacks before moving on to Division I college football. Rattler, one of the three quarterbacks in the reality show, developed a negative reputation due to a clip of him berating receivers and getting into an argument with backup quarterback JD Johnson. Also, his character continued to be questioned since he was suspended for the final few games of his senior year due to violating a code of conduct, which was covered up to appear to be an injury. Apparently, Rattler’s “QB1” reputation influenced NFL executives to target him, according to NFL Insider Ian Rapoport. “Spencer Rattler did a reality show in high school,” said Rapoport on the NFL Network draft broadcast. “It's called 'QB1: Beyond the Lights.' 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 how they can't get it out of their heads. Which I think would be a public service announcement to all 17-year-olds. However, it is fascinating as teams weigh whether or not to draft him."

Rattler’s Ups and Downs at Oklahoma Caused Concern

According to 247Sports, Rattler was ranked the number one pro-style quarterback in the nation, giving him the choice to go to any top school in the country. He chose to go to Oklahoma to succeed back-to-back Heisman winners Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray. During his redshirt freshman season in 2020, Rattler put together a stellar season, posting a 9-2 record while throwing for 3,031 yards, completing 67.5 percent of his passes, and accumulating 34 total touchdowns to only eight interceptions. He went into 2021 as a Heisman frontrunner, but everything crashed and burned as Oklahoma saw greener pastures in true freshman Caleb Williams. Williams replaced Rattler in a rivalry game at Texas, leading the team back from a 28-7 deficit to win 55-48. From then on, Rattler’s career as a Hoosier was done, and he would enter the transfer portal.

Rattler Proved Himself as a Leader at South Carolina

Despite ongoing questions about his leadership, Rattler transferred to South Carolina and was named captain in both his seasons under center. Though his numbers didn’t look great compared to his 2020 season in Oklahoma, Rattler played very well for the Gamecocks. He brought South Carolina back-to-back wins over top-10 opponents in 2022, finishing 8-5 and leading to the program’s first finish in the Top 25 since 2013. In his senior season, Rattler continued to improve, passing for 3,186 yards and throwing 19 touchdowns to only eight interceptions. Rattler went on to win the Senior Bowl MVP, completing all four of his passes for 65 yards and a touchdown.

Bowles’ Bucs Defense Could Provide Challenge for Rattler

In his first start, he’ll go up against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tampa Bay’s defense has finished as a top-10 unit in three of the last four seasons. Head coach Todd Bowles will be sure to pressure Rattler, considering PFF ranked the Saints’ offensive line as the third-worst unit going into Week Six. However, the Buccaneers have shown that they can be susceptible to rookie quarterbacks. Rookie starting quarterbacks in the last eight meetings versus the Buccaneers have compiled a 4-4 record, compiling 2,014 total yards, 14 total touchdowns, and just four total turnovers. His first career start could be challenging, but Rattler will try to prove why Dennis Allen has enough faith in him to give him the nod in this divisional matchup.