With school closed, Oklahoma QB Spencer Rattler stays sharp during workouts with high school quarterbacks in Scottsdale
With the coronavirus pandemic derailing everybody, closing high school and college campuses across the nation, Spencer Rattler finds his escape these days at a Scottsdale park, throwing the football.
He's home, taking online classes for Oklahoma, waiting to see when he'll be able to return to the Norman campus, where he is expected to be the next big thing for the Sooners at quarterback.
"He's ready," said Mike Giovando, a quarterback coach in the Valley, who has worked with Rattler since he was in the seventh grade. "He's excited to get on the field and do some the things that we do."
This should be the season for Rattler to show the college world what all the hype was about during his four-year starting career at Phoenix Pinnacle, where he was part of the Netflix documentary "Beyond the Lights: QB1" during his senior season.
He is expected to not only start for the Sooners, but to be in the running for the Heisman Trophy. That's a lot to put on a kid who spent his freshman year at Oklahoma watching Jalen Hurts direct the offense.
Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray were former Oklahoma quarterbacks who won the Heisman in back-to-back seasons.
Rattler, a five-star recruit out of high school, is listed third as far the odds of winning the Heisman next season by Westgate SuperBook at 12-1.
"We were having a good little poke at that," Giovando said. "He's excited. He's like, 'Shoot, if they're going to put me on that list, I'm going to make it happen.' That's how he is. If there is a competition, he's like, 'Let's go, let's go compete.' "
Rattler is required to follow Oklahoma policy and not talk to reporters away from school team activities. But he was definitely the leader Friday afternoon at Mountain View Park in Scottsdale, where about 20 quarterbacks got together for a workout under Giovando in his Elev8 QB Academy.
Along with Rattler was future Pinnacle standout quarterback Devon Dampier, a freshman, who was thrust into the starting role last season for the playoffs when senior J.D. Johnson discovered a medical condition with his heart that suddenly ended his career and dreams of playing for Michigan.
"We've been hanging out lately," Dampier said, about Rattler taking him under his wing while school is closed down. "I'm just trying to get better. Take every opportunity as possible."
Glendale Ironwood junior quarterback Will Haskell, 6-foot-4, 207 pounds, who recently stood out during an Elite 11 regional camp in California, showed off a strong arm. He has five college offers now, but Giovando believes Haskell's recruiting will take off, because of his athleticism along with his ability to run and throw.
Chandler Hamilton sophomore QB Nicco Marchiol, a recent move-in from Aurora (Colo.) Regis Jesuit with more than 20 offers, was part of the throng, along with Purdue's Jack Plummer and his brother Will, who will be a freshman at Arizona; and Phoenix Sunnyslope's Niko Haen, who is headed to Northern Arizona.
"I felt like I was one of the top dogs," Haskell said about his Elite 11 experience. "This next season I'm going to get up to 215, 220. I want to be bigger, faster, stronger than everybody else on the field."
While school is out, Haskell is just trying to find things to do so he doesn't go crazy. Working out with Giovando is one of them. He also is part of Ironwood's boys volleyball team. That season has been placed on hold for at least another week.
"I'm a two-sport athlete, and not being able to play another sport that has a place in my heart, it's hard," he said. "But coming out here, it's a good getaway. I'm not cooped up at home, playing video games. I can come out here and work on my craft and make sure all of my tools are sharpened up."
Gilbert Higley junior quarterback Kai Millner, 6-2, 180, a three-star recruit who has 12 offers, including Arizona and Arizona State, feels this work with other top-skilled quarterbacks will help him as he hopes to still have spring football in May.
The coronavirus outbreak has prevented him from being able to make unofficial visits to colleges because they are closed.
"I'll try to get to them later," he said. "I definitely wanted to visit, but I had to cancel."
Millner feels throwing next to Rattler and others will make him better for a what hopes will be an All-American season.
"I'm training with the best," he said. "They help me out. Just on the little things. It's been a lot of fun. I'm definitely learning a lot."
Giovando said he's still been running about 70 to 100 quarterbacks through a week for workouts, staggering times for different groups.
"It's just getting a little fresh air and try to have a little bit of normalcy," Giovando said. "Get an hour of normalcy. We're not trying to put anybody in harm's way. The kids want to come out. It's interaction with each other, being able to talk. The thing they all know is they have to work hard and be ready to go, because they're losing so much ground.
"They've lost so many valuable reps in the spring, guys trying to compete for spots."
To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on Twitter @azc_obert.
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