QB Spencer Rattler leads former Arizona high school football players in NFL draft
Not everything went the way Spencer Rattler wanted coming out of high school in 2019 as the nation's top-rated quarterback with lots of flash and pizazz, featured in the Netflix documentary QB1 his senior year at Phoenix Pinnacle.
After making a great impression at Oklahoma in 2020 with more than 3,000 passing yards and 28 passing TDs, he lost his job in favor of Caleb Williams the following season.
All of the Heisman talk faded.
He transferred to South Carolina and had to kind of resurrect his career the last two seasons. He threw for more than 3,000 yards each of those years, just to get to now, hoping to find an NFL team that will take him in the upcoming draft.
That isn't the issue, getting drafted. But where and when?
This is considered a great NFL draft for quarterbacks.
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Rattler is rated seventh among QBs by FOX Sports, which, in its bottom-line evaluation, says, "Rattler's college career didn't go as planned but he remains a very gifted passer who could prove a steal if he is available in the middle rounds."
Mike Giovando, Rattler's personal QB coach since he was in the sixth grade, has worked with him during this draft process. After Rattler left South Carolina and declared for the draft, he came back to the Valley to train. Giovando has seen the way Rattler has conducted himself, performing at the Senior Bowl, where he was named the MVP, going through the NFL combine and his pro days and hearing good things about the way Rattler's conducted himself in interviews with NFL teams.
"We talk a lot," Giovando said. "I've asked him, 'If it had come easy, would it have meant as much? The Sports Illustrated cover. The Heisman hype. Would you have worked as much?' He thinks this is how it had to go, the best scenario to learn from, because when you get to the next level, a lot of stuff won't go your way. He had a chance to go through some tough times and that's going to help him."
Coming out strong with his back against the wall has always been a part of why Rattler still is considered somewhat a sleeper in this year's draft. Even though he measures 6-1, 219 pounds, Rattler has never had to prove he's got a great arm.
The main criticism has been trying to make the big splash throws when he could find a more open target and not try to squeeze the ball into tight windows. But he's done that, too, leaving people awed by how he threaded it.
He had 37 TD passes and 20 interceptions in his last two seasons at South Carolina.
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FOX Sports projects Rattler as the seventh-best QB in the draft; behind Williams, North Carolina's Drake Maye, LSU's Jayden Williams, Michigan's J.J. McCarthy, Washington's Michael Penix Jr. and Oregon's Bo Nix.
"I think he's in that top five-six quarterback group, for sure," Giovando said. "He's right there. You just never know with the draft. I'm speaking for him, he's happy to have the opportunity to go wherever he goes, and whenever he goes.
"But me personally, I see no reason why he's not a high second-round pick at the least," Giovando said. "That's just me. I think a lot of other people feel that way, too. He could slip into the first round. You never know.
"I think anybody who had any concerns or anything, whatever they were, I think all of those questions have been answered. Everybody that has met him and been around him love the guy. That's great stuff to hear. I feel like he's going to be a great guy to have in the locker room."
Here is a list of other former Arizona high school football standouts that could go in the draft, which takes place from April 25-27:
Brenden Rice, wide receiver, USC, Hamilton
Son of NFL Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice, that could be bigger pressure. But Brenden Rice never felt that everywhere he's been. He earned honors at Colorado and USC. He was second-team All-Pac-12 last season when he had 45 catches for 791 yards and 12 TDs.
Jordan Morgan, offensive line, Arizona, Marana
He is 6-5, 311. He is an offensive tackle who started every game last season; making first-team All-Pac-12.
Jacob Cowing, wide receiver, Arizona, Maricopa
The Maricopa High graduate, who is 5-11, 170, started out at UTEP and finished his college career strong at Arizona. He broke the single-season UA record with 13 receiving TDs last season. Basha coach Chris McDonald, who was Cowing's coach at Maricopa, said he's had NFL teams reach out to him about Cowing.
Ricky Pearsall, wide receiver, Florida, Corona del Sol
He started his college career at Arizona State before transferring to Florida, where he led the Gators with 65 catches for 965 yards last season. At 6-1, 190, he projects as a slot receiver with good hands.
Bralen Trice, edge rusher, Sandra Day O'Connor, Washington
He had a strong season at Washington and did well in the NFL Draft combine, clocking at 4.72 seconds in the 40 at 6-3 1/2, 245 pounds.
Hayden Hatten, wide receiver, Idaho, Saguaro
An All-American wide receiver at Idaho, the 6-2, 205-pound Hatten declared for the NFL draft after posting 33 career TD catches for the Vandals. He started out as a tight end, before moving to wide receiver. He was one of Rattler's main targets early in his prep career at Pinnacle.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Former Arizona high school football players may be picked in NFL Draft
