South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore in a way can be blamed for the record number of underclassmen sprinting to the NFL.
Players want to get their contract years rolling, and after seeing Lattimore tear his knees up twice, they want to get paid to play.
Lattimore is three months removed from the injury, and rehabbing at the Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine.
Lattimore who declared for the NFL draft and is under the supervision of Dr. James Andrews, told USA Today he expects to be ready for the start of the 2013 NFL season.
“That’s my goal, and it is realistic,” Lattimore said.
Marcus said he never felt sorry for himself, and drew inspiration from guys like Frank Gore and Willis McGahee.
“I was past that two days after,” he said. “I didn’t ask why. I just went to work and I’m going to continue to go to work until I’m back at 100 percent and better than I was. I know it can be done and I will do it.”
“I feel like I’ve done all I can in college and felt like I was the best back in the draft without the injury,” Lattimore said. “I wanted to get a head start on my career.”
I expect Marcus Lattimore to start and be a productive back in the NFL. He may not be as shifty a back, and he may have to change his running style, but he has a future.