No. 16 Arkansas to face new Gamecocks’ QB Rattler

By ETHAN WESTERMAN
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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Spencer Rattler’s debut at South Carolina wasn’t something extraordinary in a season-opening 35-14 win over Georgia State.

The Oklahoma switch threw his first landing move as a Gamecock within the third quarter, a 16-yarder to working again MarShawn Lloyd that put South Carolina forward for good, nevertheless it was sandwiched between a pair of interceptions. Rattler handed for 227 yards, and by most measures, his first begin for the reason that 2021 recreation in opposition to Texas was underwhelming.

He acknowledged there are issues to repair.

“As a bunch, myself, everyone, we all the time wish to clear stuff up,” he mentioned. “It is recreation one, and everybody has stuff to scrub up after week one. We will take an enormous bounce this week.”

His take a look at will get a little bit more durable Saturday. Rattler and the Gamecocks go to No. 16 Arkansas within the SEC opener for each groups. Arkansas coach Sam Pittman shouldn’t be underestimating Rattler, who was producing some Heisman Trophy buzz heading into final season, and he led Oklahoma to a Cotton Bowl win over Florida after the 2020 season.

“He performs like a man that is performed earlier than, you understand, skilled, loads of poise, can really feel his confidence by way of the movie,” Pittman mentioned.

“The place he is most harmful is when he will get out of the pocket,” Pittman added. “Then when he will get out of pocket, he can throw it on the run as correct as anyone.”

Arkansas has a quarterback it feels good about, too. The Razorbacks hosted a Cincinnati crew that hadn’t misplaced a regular-season recreation since 2019 and KJ Jefferson’s f our touchdowns helped the Hogs pull out a gutsy 31-24 win to open the season.

South Carolina coach Shane Beamer mentioned simulating the 6-foot-3, 246-pound Jefferson in apply is not possible.

“To be that large – folks simply bounce off him again there,” Beamer mentioned. “And the way in which he is capable of run the soccer like he does, however then additionally within the passing recreation have the ability to sit again there and take hits and throw the ball downfield, or to have folks bounce off him and he is capable of scramble however retains his eyes downfield and is ready to throw. We might need to take, I do not know who, one in all our defensive ends and make him a quarterback (to imitate Jefferson precisely).”

Pittman has full confidence in his junior sign caller.

“KJ is gonna do what KJ is gonna do,” he mentioned. “And more often than not, it is appropriate.”

BEAMER BALL

A key to the South Carolina victory every week in the past was very good particular groups play.

The Gamecocks blocked two punts, each returned for touchdowns, and scored the sport’s first factors after a transformed faux subject objective picked up a primary down. Junior Kai Kroeger averaged 49 yards on seven punts, together with a career-best bomb that went 79 yards.

Mitch Jeter additionally made two subject targets of greater than 50 yards, with a protracted of 53.

Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer, the daddy of Shane Beamer, grew to become recognized for highlighting the significance of particular groups and the “Beamer Ball” philosophy hasn’t fallen removed from the tree.

“We all the time wish to be aggressors on particular groups,” Shane Beamer mentioned.

SNAGGING SOONERS

The matchup will characteristic the 2 highest-rated recruits within the Oklahoma Sooners’ 2019 recruiting class, Arkansas huge receiver Jadon Haselwood and South Carolina’s Rattler. Each spent two seasons with Oklahoma earlier than transferring this offseason. The 2 linked for 25 completions, 212 yards and two touchdowns whereas with the Sooners, with each scores coming in a 76-0 victory in 2021 over Western Carolina.

Former Oklahoma tight finish Austin Stogner additionally transferred to South Carolina. Stogner earned All-Large 12 honors as one in all Rattler’s prime targets in the course of the 2020 season after snagging 654 receiving yards and eight touchdowns.

SERIES RENEWED

Upon becoming a member of the Southeastern Convention in 1992, Arkansas and South Carolina have been positioned in an annual cross-divisional recreation. That resulted in 2013 when Missouri and Texas A&M joined the convention.

When the groups meet Saturday, it can finish the sequence’ largest hole since they joined the SEC. The final assembly got here in 2017, a 48-22 South Carolina victory. The final time South Carolina performed at Arkansas (2011), the eighth-ranked Razorbacks toppled the No. 10 Gamecocks 44-28. It is the final time a top-10 matchup was performed inside Razorback Stadium.

RUN-HEAVY RAZORBACKS

Arkansas rushed for 224 yards in opposition to Cincinnati, led by 117 from Raheim Sanders.

South Carolina struggled in opposition to the run in 2021, and Georgia State rushed for 200 yards within the opener. Behind a veteran offensive line, which paved the SEC’s main dashing assault a 12 months in the past, count on Arkansas to be run-heavy.