South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier told an on-campus crowd gathered in Columbia, S.C., to celebrate Marcus Lattimore’s birthday that the injured running back will play football again.
From CBS Sports:
“The message he gave me was, ‘I’ll be back,’” Spurrier said. “So he’s coming back.”
A crowd consisting of 1,000-plus South Carolina fans gathered to show support for Lattimore’s recovery and celebrate his 21st birthday, not expecting news about his future.
“This is not a memorial service,” Spurrier said. “This is a happy birthday to Marcus and an appreciation for everything he’s done and is going to do for South Carolina.”
Several from around the SEC and the nation have reached out in support of Lattimore as he begins an uphill rehabilitation process. Added Spurrier: “I told somebody, he might be the most popular Gamecock player ever.”
The junior running back dislocated his right knee and sustained injuries to ligaments in the Gamecocks’ 38-35 win over Tennessee on Saturday.
He had been rated as the No. 1 running back in the NFL draft if he decided to leave school early, but the injury puts his draft status in doubt.
Lattimore has until mid-January to decide on whether to return to South Carolina or declare for the draft.
