When Kevin Ware of the Louisville men's basketball team shattered his leg in the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament, many were reminded of another leg injury to a college athlete, South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore.
Lattimore was projected to be the best running back in this draft class entering the 2012 season, but had his season derailed when his kneecap was dislocated and he tore three ligaments, the second time in as many seasons he had suffered a knee injury.
Six months after the hit, Lattimore is confident that he will be ready for Week 1 if any team decides to take a chance on him. "I feel like, personally, I need three more months before I put some pads on," Lattimore said 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."
When asked where he expects to get drafted, Lattimore said he had no idea. "I have no clue where I will wind up," Lattimore told The Wall Street Journal. "Shoot, I've heard from first to undrafted. It's still a mystery to me." One thing he is sure of, however, is that he will play and he will surprise many people. "He [Dr. James Andrews] keeps saying I'm going to shock the world."
Two years ago, as a sophomore, Lattimore tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and missed the final six games of the 2011 season, but healed quickly and was back on the field for voluntary summer workouts.
In Lattimore's freshman year, he gained 1,197 yards on the ground and rushed for 17 touchdowns. His coach at South Carolina, Steve Spurrier, predicts success for Lattimore at the next level, and not solely based on talent. "He's going to be a success at whatever he does because of the kind of person he is," Spurrier said.
© Copyright 2024 Sports World News, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.