Gamecock great Marcus Lattimore to join South Carolina staff

Bulldogs defensive back Damian Swann (from left) tries to bottle up Gamecocks running back Marcus Lattimore with the help of linebacker Alec Ogletree.

Credit: Bob Andres

Credit: Bob Andres

Bulldogs defensive back Damian Swann (from left) tries to bottle up Gamecocks running back Marcus Lattimore with the help of linebacker Alec Ogletree.

Former South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore will join the Gamecocks’ football staff Monday as the director of player personnel.

Lattimore, a former All-American, confirmed the report in an interview with WACH Fox on Thursday.

Lattimore served as the head coach at Columbia, S.C.’s Heathwood Hall High School in 2017 after working as an assistant coach in 2016.

“It is a pretty full circle moment to be able to go back to my university and help them,” Lattimore said in the interview with WACH Fox. “I’ve kept in contact with so many people around the university – in particular coach Muschamp. I’m just really excited about this new endeavor of being director of player development for the football team at the University of South Carolina.”

The former Gamecock running back’s time at South Carolina was plagued by injuries. He tore a knee ligament in October 2011 which ended his sophomore season and in 2012, he suffered another knee injury on Oct. 27 which ended his junior season.

Lattimore declared for the 2013 NFL Draft after his junior season and was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth round. He retired two years later at 23 due to extensive knee injuries.

At South Carolina, Lattimore rushed for 2,677 yards and 38 touchdowns and caught for 767yards and three touchdowns.