It’s finally time for QB Spencer Rattler to show what he can do at South Carolina

Spencer Rattler stands behind the lectern in South Carolina’s interview room as a subtle smirk graces his face.

There’s a quiet confidence about Rattler. He exudes the self-assured nature you’d expect out of a player who received his first FBS scholarship offer at 14 years old.

But for a brief moment on Tuesday, the usually calm, cool and collected Rattler offered a window into his own emotions heading into South Carolina’s season opener against Georgia State and his first real game action since arriving in Columbia.

“Hopefully I’ll get the anxiety out of the way,” he said, stammering just a smidge. “You know, anxious anxiety. Just fun, ready to go vibes. I’m not nervous, just excited. You know what I mean? It’s going to be fun.”

Rattler’s words — albeit a bit jumbled — make plenty of sense. After all, it’s been 284 days since he last suited up for Oklahoma during a topsy-turvy final season in Norman. He hasn’t been sacked in a game since a Nov. 13 loss at Baylor, one week prior to his final appearance as a Sooner.

As is standard practice for quarterbacks this time of year, Rattler has been on a non-contact regimen since he arrived for spring practices. He joked that it’ll be nice to get hit a time or two early in the season opener.

More pressing, though, Saturday should give the first tangible look at what Rattler can bring to a Gamecocks offense in desperate need of stability under center.

“He was just kind of playing football in the spring and trying to learn — he was basically just memorizing pictures,” offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield said. “In the summer, he did a really nice job of learning the offense. Through camp he came out on fire.”

That those outside the building will finally get a healthy helping of Rattler is a long time coming.

His commitment to the Gamecocks in mid-December thrust South Carolina into the national conversation overnight. As tricky as the team has been to peg in preseason prognostications, Rattler’s arrival gives Beamer’s second squad in Columbia the makings of a darkhorse in a wide-open SEC East.

There have been glimpses of what he can bring to the offense, but a spring game and scattered media viewing periods during fall camp only offer so much insight.

“Spencer’s probably got the best arm talent I’ve ever seen,” former Oklahoma linebacker Nik Bonitto said at the NFL Scouting Combine in March. “He’s a guy that’s going to compete every day. He’s going to work his butt off.”

So what actually should be expected of Rattler in Week 1? Handicapping the strong-armed gunslinger is difficult, at best. Rattler said he’s not writing an exact number down as to what would indicate offensive success on Saturday. But glancing at his stats over his past two seasons as a starter, though, it suggests he should be efficient.

Rattler has played parts of four career games against non-Power Five opponents. He’s combined for 887 yards, 11 touchdowns and just two interceptions, while completing 79.1% of his 86 attempts in those contests.

Georgia State, though, poses a challenge of its own.

The Panthers return seven starters on a defense that only allowed two 300-yard passers in its 13 games last year. Auburn — Georgia State and South Carolina’s lone common opponent in 2022 — also mustered just 253 yards through the air in a near-upset.

“I think the biggest thing with (Rattler) or any of our guys, it’s just go out there and — it’s cliche — do your job,” Beamer said. “Be yourself. You don’t need to be Superman out there. Make plays and execute.”

Players and coaches have raved about the aptitude of this year’s offense. In fairness, the offense can’t be much worse than last year’s group that — accentuated by a revolving door at quarterback — ranked in the bottom-third of the SEC in every major offensive category.

Satterfield is bullish on the stability Rattler brings under center. The imports of tight end Austin Stogner (Oklahoma) and receivers Antwane “Juice” Wells and Corey Rucker (Arkansas State) coupled with a slew of returners make the Gamecocks, at least on paper, a realistic breakout candidate.

Rattler entered last season as a preseason Heisman Trophy front-runner and a perceived option for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. His stock may have taken a hit, but Saturday is the first true test.

And, make no mistake, that nervous energy Rattler momentarily flashed on Tuesday — it should be short-lived.

“It’s after that first run, that first completion,” he said of when it tends to wear off. “Then I’m just in zone.”