South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback Spencer Rattler found a fun way to celebrate his team’s big upset win over the Clemson Tigers on Saturday.
Rattler, once considered a strong candidate to go first overall in the 2022 NFL Draft, completed 25 passes for 360 yards and two touchdowns in South Carolina’s stunning 31-30 win over the No.8 ranked Tigers.
So, how did Rattler celebrate the Gamecocks’ monumental win over Clemson? Oh, you know, just by pulling out a victory cigar — something that Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow made cool some years ago during his tenure at LSU.
Burrow made headlines around the football world when he smoked a victory cigar when he led LSU to an easy 42-25 win over Clemson in the 2019 national championship game. On Saturday, it was Rattler’s time to try out the victory cigar.
Rattler led his Oklahoma Sooners to a Big 12 Championship in the 2020 season. But his play unexpectedly regressed in 2021, leading to him losing his starting job in favor of Caleb Williams.
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After the season, Rattler transferred to South Carolina and took over as their starter. The 22-year-old has enjoyed a solid bounce-back season with his new team, completing 66.9 percent of his pass attempts for 2,420 yards and 14 touchdowns against nine interceptions.
The Gamecocks’ upset of the Tigers essentially ended any hopes Clemson had at qualifying for the four-team College Football Playoff National Championship. It was a lost opportunity for Clemson, who saw the No. 2 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes lose in blowout fashion to the No. 3 ranked Michigan Wolverines at home.
Rattler won’t be among the first quarterbacks taken in the 2023 NFL Draft. Not with C.J. Stroud (Ohio State), Bryce Young (Alabama) and Will Levis (Kentucky) on the board, but Rattler’s impressive outing against Clemson can only help his draft stock.
