Run it back: Spencer Rattler delivers great news for South Carolina and 2023 season

Spencer Rattler is running it back.

The Gamecocks starting quarterback announced on Tuesday night through a social media video that he will return to South Carolina for the 2023 season.

Head coach Shane Beamer quickly chimed in with a Twitter response: “Here. We. Go!!!!!!!!!!!”

Rattler a year ago came to South Carolina as one of the more ballyhooed transfers in college football when he committed in December 2021 alongside ex-Oklahoma teammate Austin Stogner.

The one-time five-star recruit had an up-and-down career during his time in Norman, heading into the 2021 season as a perceived Heisman Trophy Candidate before being benched in favor of Caleb Williams. Rattler left Oklahoma in search of a fresh start, eventually landing at USC with former Sooners assistant Shane Beamer.

This year, Rattler flashed during wins over Texas A&M, Kentucky and Vanderbilt, but still struggled in spurts.

The Arizona native then regained his elite form over the final two games of the season, helping South Carolina to upset wins over No. 5 Tennessee and No. 8 Clemson. Rattler completed 54 of 75 passes (72%) for 792 yards, eight touchdowns and just two interceptions in those two games.

“Had some pressure, and we’ve got to help (Rattler) with some of the throws in the second half, but he’s a heck of a football player that continued to get better as the season went on,” Beamer said following the Gator Bowl loss to Notre Dame. “Certainly was a catalyst to us having the success that we had throughout the season, as well.”

His favorite USC target in 2022, wide receiver Antwane Wells Jr., announced his own plans to return to USC on Monday night.

Rattler’s return is no doubt a boon for the Gamecocks’ offense, though South Carolina’s quarterback room will enter the spring a bit jumbled.

Rattler projects as the QB1 again ahead of former four-star recruit Luke Doty, who was the anointed starter in 2021 before a foot injury limited and ultimately ended his season.

The Gamecocks are also high on 2021 four-star passer Tanner Bailey, who traveled as the third-string quarterback the final three games of the regular season. South Carolina currently rosters three other scholarship passers in Braden Davis, Colten Gauthier and LaNorris Sellers.

USC recently added Sellers, a four-star passer, to its 2023 recruiting class after flipping the South Florence quarterback from Syracuse late in the recruiting process.