Spencer Rattler calls out "toxic situation" at Oklahoma before transferring to South Carolina

Spencer Rattler started last season as a Heisman favorite at Oklahoma, but a midseason QB change resulted in the quarterback transferring to South Carolina.

It sounds like getting away from the Sooners was exactly what he needed.

"A lot of guys don't get another chance, to start over where they're really wanted," Rattler said, via ESPN. "I was just happy to get away from a toxic situation and get somewhere new. Anywhere was going to be better, and I found the right place."

How "toxic" was it at Oklahoma?

"That will be a story for later," Rattler said. "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."

It sounds like Rattler believes his benching led directly to OU's late-season troubles.

"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," he said.

"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."

OU made the switch

Rattler helped lead Oklahoma to a 5-0 record to start last season, but with the team playing in closer-than-expected games, many Sooner fans started chanting "We Want Caleb" in reference to Caleb Williams.

They got their wish when OU, when down 35-17 to archrival Texas, pulled Rattler in favor of Williams, who led the Sooners in the biggest-ever comeback against the Longhorns and kept the job the rest of the way.

Williams led Oklahoma to an 11-2 record with losses to Baylor and Oklahoma State, the teams that would go on to play for the Big 12 championship.

Then in the offseason, head coach Lincoln Riley left for the USC and Williams followed. Rattler, along with tight end Austin Stogner, transferred to South Carolina.

Rattler, a former 5-star recruit, completed more than 70 percent of his passes for 4,595 yards with 40 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 23 games for Oklahoma.

Now, South Carolina hopes Rattler can revive that production in what everyone involved hopes will be a less toxic environment this season in the SEC East race.

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