Jeff Blake-USA Today Sports
Injuries have plagued former South Carolina running back and NFL prospect Marcus Lattimore throughout his collegiate career. After suffering one of the more gruesome injuries in football just last season, Lattimore is still on the road to recovery and looking like a draft hopeful who should hear his name called within the middle rounds of this year’s NFL Draft.
Last year at this time however, Lattimore could have been a first round selection and possibly even the top running back to hear his name called. Upon his decision to return to school, the injury has set Lattimore back, but he’s working harder than ever to get back on the football field. He won’t be a first round selection this season, but Lattimore should hear his named called either late Friday night or early Saturday.
While Lattimore knows he has interest from a number of teams that he has spoken with in the past, he continues to feel even more confident on his road to recovery. “I feel like, personally, I need three more months before I put some pads on,” Lattimore told USA Today Sports on Tuesday. “I know my body. I know when I’ll be ready to play. It takes time I know, but at the beginning of the season, I feel like I should be ready to go.”
If Lattimore could ever be ready to go for Week 1, that would mark an incredible road to recovery. In fact, there will surely be a moment of satisfaction for Lattimore this weekend, especially considering that Saturday will mark six months to the day in which he dislocated his knee.
Lattimore has a lot of fans pushing for him and is surely is one of the better stories in this year’s NFL Draft.
Follow Paul Seaver on Twitter: @PaulSeaverRS
