Unfortunately, former South Carolina RB Marcus Lattimore is something of an expert on how a running back returns from a knee injury. So Gridiron Now’s Tony Barnhart decided to talk to Lattimore to find out what Georgia RB Nick Chubb is going through heading into the 2016 season.
“From everything I’ve heard about Nick, he’ll be fine on the physical part of coming back from this injury,” Lattimore told Barnhart. “But the mental part of the recovery will be the toughest thing of all. Since the injury, he’s had people coming up to him and constantly reminding him about it and asking about it.
“You’re trying to come back from something bad but you have to do it in public. You can’t help it. It gets in your mind.”
Highlights of Chubb from UGA’s first practice recently excited UGA fans, but Lattimore says it’s different when it’s an opposing defense ready to hit hard.
“It’s going to take him a little while. Because when people start diving at your knees, you are going to flinch and try to protect yourself. The first hit is going to be scary; there is no way around that.”
Worrying about the knee can also lead to other issues.
“I was so concerned about the knee that I forgot to hold on to the ball and fumbled on the first play against Vanderbilt,” Lattimore recounted. “But the next time, I touched the ball I ran (29 yards) for a touchdown.
“The best advice I would give him is just to concentrate on working hard so that you don’t think about it (the knee).”
Despite the division rivalry between their schools, Lattimore is pulling for Chubb this season.
“I’m rooting for him,” Lattimore said. “I hope he comes back and has a great year.”
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
