DOCTORS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT GAMECOCK SUPERSTAR’S RETURN TO FOOTBALL
Anyone who watched University of South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore go down against the Tennessee Volunteers earlier this year couldn’t help but entertain grave doubts as to whether the Gamecock superstar would ever play football again.
The injury to Lattimore’s right knee was downright gruesome … and initial concern that he might have suffered arterial damage along with his dislocation (hyper-extension) had some questioning whether he would suffer the same fate as high school quarterback Jacob Rainey, who lost his leg after a similar injury in 2011.
Fortunately, Lattimore’s injury – while severe – wasn’t as bad as it appeared. While initial comparisons were made to the career-ending broken leg suffered by former Washington Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann in November 1985 – Lattimore’s injury is now being compared to the January 2003 knee injury suffered by former Miami standout Willis McGahee.
McGahee tore three ligaments in his knee during the Hurricanes’ national championship loss to Ohio State, after which he underwent an extensive rehabilitation that kept him sidelined for his entire rookie season in the NFL. He eventually recovered, though, and has amassed nearly 8,000 rushing yards and 63 touchdowns in eight-and-a-half seasons with the Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens and most recently, the Denver Broncos.
Will Lattimore follow in his footsteps?
Late last week the USC star “had several ligaments surgically repaired in his right knee by a team of physicians in Birmingham, Alabama,” a statement from the University reveals.
Lattimore “returned to Columbia over the weekend and was released from a local hospital on Monday,” the school’s released continues, adding that the 21-year-old tailback “is in good spirits and has already begun the rehabilitation process.”
The school says further surgery will not be needed – although it did not release a timetable for his recovery.
Obviously the fact that Lattimore will be able to play again after suffering such a catastrophic injury is amazing news – and a testament to the skill of the trainers who treated him on the field and the doctors who attended to him and operated on him.
The 6-foot-1, 218-pound Duncan, S.C. native – who bounced back from a season-ending injury to his left knee in 2011 – has a medical redshirt year he could use for 2013 depending on the timetable of his rehabilitation.
Whatever he decides to do – and at this point we have no doubt that he’s planning a return to the football field – we wish Lattimore nothing but the best.
In 28 games at USC, Lattimore has rushed for 2,677 yards and scored a school-record 41 touchdowns. Not only that, he’s inspired his teammates, fans and even his opponents with his selflessness in all aspects of life.
Like Clemson head football coach Dabo Swinney said recently, Lattimore represents everything that is right about college athletics – which is why we hope to see him competing again just as soon as he can.
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7 comments
I’m a Clemson fan, but I wish him luck.
Kid’s got talent.
Carolina fan and I’m wishing him the best. Great young lad that any mother would love to have as a son or son-in-law. A champ of a fella.
Good kid. Hope he gets better and goes to the leage.
Alabama and Clemson fan here would love to see this great kid come back! Pleasure to watch. And so refreshing to see a good kid inside and out.
Fact error here. He has a regular redshirt year available. He would have to apply for and the NCAA would have to grant him a medical redshirt.
Players have five years to play four seasons. While Marcus has actually only been on the field for about two seasons over three, he has played enough in all that he has two more years in which to play one more full season.
Medical redshirt basically means you have six years to play four seasons, but again, very unlikely unless he has to rehab for the entire year. Then the NCAA would be dumb not to grant it. But Marcus only needs one more complete season to become an NFL prospect.
Also, “Lattimore’s injury is now being compared to the January 2003 knee injury suffered by former Miami standout Willis McGahee.”
Now? People were saying that, in published reports as well as among fans, from the get-go. You are a little late to the McGahee comparison, Wil. Thank you for ceasing to compare it to the high school kid who lost his leg.
Marcus is stronger than a bear. If Willis Maghee can do it, Marcus WILL do it.
Love the guy.