It might have been a harsh reality for Spencer Rattler to see himself drop late into the 2024 NFL Draft.
However, a possible past incident behind the fifth-round falling could be even harsher.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport insinuated that the No. 150 overall pick’s stock might have dropped because of his high school career, which was shown publicly on season 3 of the Netflix reality series “QB1: Beyond the Lights.”
The documentary series followed three-star high school quarterbacks each season, including Rattler, during their final seasons before moving on to play Division I college football.
“Spencer Rattler did a reality show in high school,” said Rapoport on the NFL Network’s broadcast of the draft. “It did not make him look great. 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, which I think would be a public service announcement to all 17-year-olds. But it is fascinating while teams weigh whether or not to draft him.”
The series, which has also featured Justin Fields, Sam Hartman, Bryce Young, and Anthony Richardson, detailed how Rattler was suspended during his senior year of high school for violating a district code of conduct that kept him out for his senior night game — and the remainder of the season.
There are still few details around the incident that ruled his ineligibility.
However, it’s known that his family tried to play off the ruling by claiming Rattler was suffering from an injury.
Still, Rattler was the No. 1 quarterback recruit out of Pinnacle High School in Phoenix, and he went on to play for Oklahoma for three seasons before transferring to South Carolina after the No. 1 overall pick to the Bears, Caleb Williams, came in and took time away from him.
He threw for 3,186 yards to tally 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions across 12 games with the Gamecocks.
Rattler’s pick marked the longest span of picks (137) between quarterbacks since 1972, according to The Athletic.
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