Spencer Rattler describes transferring from Oklahoma to South Carolina as getting out of a toxic situation. The quote comes from a new feature story on Rattler from ESPN’s Chris Low ahead of South Carolina’s spring game Saturday.

“A lot of guys don’t get another chance, to start over where they’re really wanted,” Rattler told 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.”

Low’s article does not contain any more quotes from Rattler detailing why he felt his situation at Oklahoma was “toxic.” Sooners’ fans booing Rattler and calling for him to be benched for Caleb Williams are mentioned without comment from the quarterback himself. Rattler does elaborate on why transferring to South Carolina, a decision he made without seeing the campus, was the right call.

“I was blown away, and knowing Coach Beamer from when he was an assistant at Oklahoma and the way he rides with his players, I knew I could trust him,” Rattler said. “South Carolina had everything I was looking for, and I feel like it’s more impressive if you go to a school that’s coming up and do it there, with great teammates around you, than to go somewhere like Alabama and win games.

“You can just feel it here, this community, this city, these fans. We’re on the rise.”

The current Gamecock head coach was an Oklahoma for 3 seasons (2018-20), including Rattler’s first 2 with the Sooners (2019-20). Low’s ESPN article notes that Rattler also received interest from Ole Miss, Arizona State, Nebraska, Oregon, Pittsburgh and UCLA.

More on Rattler from Beamer, Austin Stogner and others can be found in Low’s article here.