Oklahoma football: ESPN predicts Spencer Rattler as next OU Heisman finalist
By Chip Rouse
Spencer Rattler is the first true Oklahoma football recruit to start at quarterback for the Sooners since Trevor Knight in 2013.
Rattler, the top-ranked Sooner prospect in the highly heralded OU class of 2019, which featured four five-star prospects, is in his second season at Oklahoma, but only played in three games last season and is classified as a redshirt freshman as the Sooners prepare to open the 2020 season on Saturday against FCS opponent Missouri State.
For the previous five seasons, the Oklahoma starting quarterback has been someone who did not begin his college career playing for the Sooners. Baker Mayfield (2015-17), Kyler Murray (2017-18) and Jalen Hurts (2019) all transferred to Oklahoma after starting at Texas Tech, Texas A&M and Alabama, respectively.
As every fan who follows Oklahoma football knows, the legacy left by that quarterback trio is unprecedented. Two Heisman Trophy winners and a Heisman runner-up, as well as two No. 1 overall NFL Draft picks.
And now its’ Rattler’s turn at the Sooner offensive throttle. To whom much is given, much is expected, and that is the situation facing the young Oklahoma quarterback as he gets ready to make his first collegiate start at quarterback. Rattler has been committed to Oklahoma and Lincoln Riley since his junior year of high school at Pinnacle High School in Phoenix, Arizona.
Rattler set an Arizona high school record with 11, 083 career passing yards and 116 touchdowns. He was the No, 1 dual-threat quarterback in the 2019 national class and before ever arriving on the Oklahoma campus was named the Most Valuable Player at 2018 Elite 11, the premier quarterback competition for high school quarterbacks.
Now he steps into the role as the next highly anticipated quarterback for the program that has proudly laid claim to the designation “Quarterback U.”
Expectations for Rattler, who takes the reins as the least experienced of the quarterbacks who have played at Oklahoma under Riley, have been sky high since he committed to the Sooners. Murray was the man in the saddle at that point in time and Hurts was still at Alabama.
In a recent article by ESPN college football writer Mark Schlabach previewing the 2020 college football season , he predicted that Oklahoma would win the Big 12, but, like two years ago, lose to Texas in the regular season but defeat the Longhorns in the Big 12 Championship behind a more seasoned and experienced Rattler with six more games after the Texas loss under his belt.
Schlabach also predicted that Rattler would win the award as Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year, plus end the year as the next Oklahoma Heisman finalist.
A pretty bold prediction for a player that has thrown only 11 collegiate passes, but as long as Riley is coaching the Sooner QBs and running the offense, Schlabach believes Rattler is the next player to come out of the assembly line of celebrated Oklahoma quarterbacks.
"“To me, pressure is a privilege,” Rattler told reporters earlier this week, including Brandon Marcello of 247Sports. “I look at it to embrace it. I’m not gonna run away from any expectations or this and that. I just focus on what I have to do with my team. I’ve got a great group of guys around me and a great supporting cast of coaches.”"
Rattler is brimming with confidence and his Sooner coaches feel he is ready for the moment.
"“My whole career is just being able to make plays on my feet (and) get guys open down the field when I’m outside of the pocket,” the redshirt freshman quarterback says. “I think that’s one of the stronger qualities to my game. I’m excited to do it in a game and show everybody what I’ve got.”"
Sounds like he’s the perfect fit as the next great Oklahoma quarterback, and we’re all anxious to see “what he’s got,” starting on Saturday.