Oklahoma freshman quarterback Spencer Rattler made a promise.

It was slight, but telling to where he stands today.

“Same mindset—I’m going to go in and fight for (the quarterback spot),” Rattler told reporters after accepting his High School Quarterback of the Year award in January. “I’ll just keep working, go in there and learn and compete.”

Now starting quarterback Jalen Hurts was in attendance at the National Quarterback Club Awards in Scottsdale, Arizona. Six days prior to the two gathering together at the banquet, Hurts announced his intentions to transfer to Oklahoma.

Anyone that had a truth serum put in them would tell you that Hurts was going to be the Sooners’ starting quarterback since announcing that decision to transfer and play under head coach Lincoln Riley.

That didn’t matter to Rattler, apparently, as he quickly threw his hat in the race after a couple months since arriving to Norman, Oklahoma, and missing the spring.

“I do, I do,” Riley said about Rattler being in the competition on Aug. 13. “He’s done a nice job. He’s a very gifted thrower. He’s more than anybody just kind of in a race against time, having not been here in spring. You can certainly tell that the other two were here for spring, and there’s no doubt, and certainly could early, but he’s he’s gaining on—not necessarily gaining on Jalen or gaining on Tanner (Mordecai)—but just gaining on getting to the point where he can execute and communicate everything that we want him to.

“He’s a quick study, and one thing I have appreciated about the kid, even though he wasn’t here for spring, he’s not afraid of the moment. He thinks he should be right in the middle of it, which you know, you better believe that and he certainly has that self-confidence.”

But, if you asked Riley prior to fall camp starting on Aug. 2 at local media day, he wasn’t as certain—Rattler made him adjust.

“We’ll find out,” Riley said then. “I mean, with any true freshman for us, they’re gonna get reps. The number of those are gonna be on if they show that they’re ready to earn a big bulk of the reps. We’re not just gonna throw a true freshman in there just because. But we are gonna give him enough reps to see if he’s ready to factor into this thing right now. If he is, we’ll adjust. And if he’s not, then we’ll adjust.”

Sure, Hurts was named the starting quarterback, but that didn’t stop Riley from continuing to hail praise for his future quarterback Tuesday night after the starting quarterback decision was made.

“Spencer Rattler showed early control and playmaking ability that’s pretty rare for someone his age,” he said.

Rare.

That’s not something uncommon for a 5-star and No. 1 quarterback in his recruiting class to do. It is, though, something that is surprising with the complexity of Riley’s offense.

It didn’t take long, either, as teammates took notice only six days into camp.

“Spencer, he’s as good as advertised,” said 6th-year senior wide receiver Nick Basquine said on Aug. 6. “I don’t like to believe the hype, I got to get out there with them and see how they throw the ball—he definitely sees things different and makes throws that kind of make you drop your jaw at.

“Already in camp, you see the flashes of why he was rated, what he was rated and what he could be if he puts it all together.”

Promise kept—he fought, learned quick and competed.

Rattler’s made a couple other lofty, clearly over-exaggerated promises, too, that was seen in episode eight of Netflix’s QB1 show with teammate JD Johnson. Somewhat unattainable, sure, but the premise was clear.

“I’ll tell you what you are not going to do,” Johnson said, somewhat jokingly.

“Okay …,” Rattler said.

“You are not going to beat Texas three years in a row. Going to have to stay a fourth-year ’cause no one wants you, and then Heisman, you are going to be in the running and then (loss), (loss) and (loss). … So prove me wrong.”

Rattler, who reaches his hand out with a serious look and straight face, “I will.”