Marcus Lattimore’s playing career may have come to an abrupt end when he blew his knee out during his junior season in 2012, but he can now find solace in the fact that he has been able to achieve something many top-shelf athletes do not.
Next month, he will graduate with a degree in Public Health from the University of South Carolina.
“This is a proud day,” Lattimore told Greenville Online during South Carolina’s Ring Day ceremony. “Sitting through the ring ceremony watching everybody reading all their accomplishments and then you hear your name.
“May 6, at 3 p.m. I graduate from college. Not a lot of people do that, especially in my family. Words can’t really describe — it’s going to be a proud day. It really is. It ranks up there really high.”
Related: NCAA won’t allow Lattimore to join Gamecocks’ coaching staff
Lattimore was destined for a professional playing career before suffering a gruesome knee injury that derailed any chances of a successful future as an NFL running back. The injury — which came not long after a torn ACL in his left knee from his sophomore year — dropped his draft stock significantly, as he fell to the San Francisco 49ers with the 131st overall pick in the fourth round of the 2013 draft.
He did not receive a single carry in two seasons with the 49ers. But that’s OK — now he’s ready to move on to the next phase of his life.
“I was immature,” he said. “I was very immature. I was very young. Football was my life. Football was everything to me and everything I did revolved around football.
“Then I learned you’ve got to find something else to do real quick. I realized the importance of having an education. Having these academic advisors and the Letterman’s Association and my coaches pushed me to be the best I could be.”
Tyler Waddell is a member of the Saturday Down South news team. He brings over five years of professional journalism experience and is closing in on a Bachelor's in sports management. Follow him on Twitter (@Tyler_Waddell).
