Rapoport: Spencer Rattler's HS Reality Show Contributed to 2024 NFL Draft Slide

Spencer Rattler's attempts to make himself into a superstar before playing college football is reportedly impacted his stock in the 2024 NFL draft.

On NFL Network's draft coverage, Ian Rapoport reported a Netflix documentary series that Rattler appeared on in 2019 has lingered in the minds of NFL teams.

"It did not make him look great," Rapoport said. "And it is unbelievable how many different teams mentioned to me the image of him in that show and how they can't get it out of their heads."

Rattler eventually went off the board at No. 150 overall to the New Orleans Saints.

Rattler was one of three high school quarterbacks featured on the third season of QB1: Beyond the Lights in 2019. The series, which ran for three seasons on Netflix from 2017 to '19, followed three seniors in their final year before they went off to college.

Mike Rattler, Spencer's father, told Richard Obert of The Arizona Republic in October 2018 his son was ruled ineligible for the remainder of Phoenix Pinnacle's season, including the playoffs, for violating a district code of conduct policy

"We can't say anything more on that," Mike told Obert, while adding they discussed everything with then-Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley. "There is nothing on his permanent record," Mike explained.

The documentary, which premiered on Aug. 16, 2019, touched on the situation without getting into specifics.

Dana Scott of The Arizona Republic noted it was revealed at the end of episode eight that Pinnacle head coach Dana Zupke informed Rattler he wouldn't be playing in the Senior Night game against Scottsdale Chaparral.

The ninth episode doesn't discuss Rattler's absence due to "confidentiality concerns," but the quarterback cited a sprained MCL as the reason he didn't play and is seen wearing a knee brace in a few scenes.

According to Scott, Rattler's only mention of the suspension comes in episode 10 when he said he was ruled ineligible for 30 days due to a "childish, dumb mistake."

Rattler was expected to be a star at the college level after committing to Oklahoma as a junior in 2017. He was a 5-star prospect and top-ranked pro-style quarterback in the 2019 class, per 247Sports' composite rankings.

As a redshirt freshman in 2020, Rattler looked like the player everyone expected. He threw for 3,031 yards with 28 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 11 starts.

After struggling to start the 2021 season, Rattler was benched in favor of Caleb Williams. He transferred to South Carolina in December 2021 and played his final two college years with the Gamecocks.

In an April 2022 story by ESPN's Chris Low, Rattler said he "was just happy to get away from a toxic situation and get somewhere new" when talking about the transfer.

Rattler didn't elaborate on what he meant by the "toxic situation" at Oklahoma:

"That will be a story for later. I don't want to get too in depth with it, but it was out of my control. All I can tell you is that we were undefeated at the time I was benched. We won a championship the year before and were going to win another one. I could go on and on.

"We had a great summer and then once the season started, we had a competitive first couple of games and didn't play up to par. I just feel like we weren't given enough time to jell together during the season. Triggers were pulled too quick, and because of that, we lost two games and didn't win another championship. But, like I said, that was out of my control. I gave my all with my teammates and for the real coaches up there."

Low noted even before Rattler was benched by the Sooners for struggling on the field, he was "painted in some circles as being a bad teammate."

Rattler seemed to make it through his two years at South Carolina without issue. He started 25 games, throwing for 6,212 yards and 37 touchdowns.