One of the more recognizable players at South Carolina in the last decade plus has been RB Marcus Lattimore, who has returned to the program in the role of Director of Player Development.

Lattimore, who’s career was cut short by a knee injuries, including a serious injury in 2012 against Tennessee, will be among 9 inductees into the South Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame on Thursday night. He played for the Gamecocks from 2010 to 2012, and was one of Steve Spurrier’s key recruits in his tenure.

“Wow, how much time do you have,” coach Will Muschamp said Tuesday during his regular weekly press conference about Lattimore’s meaning to the program. “Probably a lot of things I don’t see, then a large majority of things I do see, and how he positively affects everyone in that locker room.”

Muschamp said Lattimore’s office is near the nutrition hub, where all of the players eat breakfast in the morning, and lunch before they leave the building. He said there’s often several players in his office talking with Lattimore.

“Whether it’s about adversity, something going on at home, or just talking,” Muschamp said. “So many of the things he’s done in our state, number one, in our community, for the University of South Carolina and promoting the University of South Carolina and the Gamecock brand. And how he represents us in a first-class manner. But for me personally, a great friendship that I’ve developed with Marcus and how much he’s made a difference in this program as a player, obviously, but also moving forward as a mentor to a lot of people in this building.”

Despite that abbreviated career because of injury, Lattimore ranks sixth on the school’s all-time rushing list with 2,677 yards, and owns the school record for both rushing touchdowns (38) and touchdowns scored (41).

His best season came as a freshman in 2010 when he rushed for 1,197 yards while being a unanimous selection as a Freshman All-American. He was a fourth-round pick by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2013 NFL Draft.