'I'm ready to go': Former Pinnacle QB Spencer Rattler not counting himself out as he prepares for NFL draft

Spencer Rattler's hype started as far back as 2015, his freshman year at Phoenix Pinnacle High School, when he started against powerful Chandler in his first varsity game. Expectations heightened every year.

And, in 2018, rated the top high school quarterback in the nation, he had a microphone taped to his midsection, followed around by a Netflix crew for the documentary, "QB1: Beyond the Lights."

Then, there was the Heisman hype at Oklahoma, where, after sitting behind Jalen Hurts his freshman year, he had a 3,000-yard COVID-impacted season, followed by a shaky 2021 season in which he was benched midway through for Caleb Williams, who eventually won the Heisman at USC.

Now, after two years at South Carolina, which ended this past season with a 3,000-yard season, Rattler is working to re-establish himself as among the top quarterbacks for the 2024 NFL Draft that will be held April 25-27.

The projections from a first-round pick after his 2020 season to maybe going as late as the third day in this year's draft have Rattler working every day to prove himself.

He's back in Phoenix to train for the Feb. 3 Senior Bowl, then his pro day, followed by the NFL combine. He'll then see where he winds up in the draft. He could have stayed another season at South Carolina, because the COVID year gave him an extra year of college eligibility, but he feels he's done enough and is ready for the ultimate level.

"It's all over the place," Rattler said about his 2024 draft projections. "Everything. First round, second round, third round. That could change each week, especially with the Senior Bowl, then pro day and combine."

Rattler, who was at Gilbert Higley High over the weekend to help QB coaching guru Mike Giovando with his winter quarterbacks camps, mentoring youths, looks back with no regrets about how things went for him in college.

"I'm very pleased with my college career," he said. "Had a lot of fun. I had enough experience. I had a good last year, and I'm ready to go."

Rattler finished with college career with 10,807 yards passing and 77 TD passes. During a three-game stretch finishing up the 2022 season, Rattler put up more than 1,000 yards in upsets of Tennessee and Clemson followed by a 45-38 Gator Bowl loss to Notre Dame, a game in which he threw for 246 yards and two TDs.

"Those two years were special, and I enjoyed it a lot," he said.

Meanwhile, Williams not only went on to win the Heisman but by most accounts figures to be the No. 1 pick of this year's draft.

After Lincoln Riley turned to Williams during Rattler's redshirt sophomore year at Oklahoma, Rattler rolled with it.

"You just keep going," Rattler said. "You keep believing. God has everything written. It's already in the plans. I truly believe I was at South Carolina because of that."

Rattler said he always feels there is something to prove.

"I'm confident in my abilities," he said. "I'll go up against anybody. I'm ready to show that and do that."

Giovando, who has trained with Rattler since he was in the sixth grade, realizing then the special talents the quarterback had, is now working with Rattler and former Gilbert quarterback Jack Plummer to get them ready for the NFL.

"He's prepared himself," Giovando said about Rattler. "With all of the experience he's had in college, the different things he had to go through, the ups and downs, just fighting through adversity, playing in two different conferences, seeing all kinds of levels of competition."

With the hype throughout Rattler's football life, Giovando feels Rattler has handled everything with "a lot of dignity."

"I truly believe he's ready for the big stage, he's ready for that moment," Giovando said. "He's got as much arm talent as anybody, if not more than anybody who is going to be in this draft. He's got experience with all the games that he's played."

Plummer, who played three years at Purdue, two years at California and his last season at Louisville, is more of an outside chance of being taken in the draft. He passed for 3,200 yards and 21 TDs in his final college season, leading the Cardinals to 10 wins.

After Louisville lost to Florida State in the ACC championship game, he stuck around to play in the Holiday Bowl, a 42-28 loss to USC. Plummer was 21 of 25 passing for 141 yards and no TDs.

"I think the bowl game helped," Plummer said. "I wanted to play. You get that far, you want to finish it out."

To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert atrichard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:@azc_obert

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: QB Spencer Rattler not counting himself out as he prepares for draft