Ranking the prospective starting quarterbacks in the SEC

By Will Thomas | May 17, 2023

Florida Gators quarterback Graham Mertz (15) looks to throw during the second half during the Florida Gators Orange and Blue Spring Game at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 13, 2023. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]Ncaa Football Florida Gators Orange Blue Spring Game /

12 of 14

Dec 30, 2022; Jacksonville, FL, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback Spencer Rattler (7) throws a touchdown against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the third quarter in the 2022 Gator Bowl at TIAA Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Reper-USA TODAY Sports /

3. player. 850. . . . Spencer Rattler

To be fully transparent I’ve never been that high on Rattler. I was afraid that all of the attention he got out of high school, and the coverage of Caleb Williams taking his job in Norman would hurt him too much.

But what he did in those final two regular season games against Tennessee and Clemson was remarkable.

438 yards and six TDs vs the Vols, and 360 yards and two scores in Death Valley to win both of those games is not something a lot of people can do.

So you take his highs, but you also have to understand his lows.

Against Florida, and Patrick Toney’s terrible defense, he only threw for 145 yards and didn’t score. He also failed to break 200 yards against Missouri and Kentucky.

So he’s at number three on the list because of what he can become. I think that final stretch last season showed Spencer what he has to do to be great, and now he’ll do it more consistently.

As long as he can avoid those sleepy games, he’ll be elite this season.

Home/Florida Gators Football