Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

NFL draft prospect Marcus Lattimore suffers serious leg injury

Georgia v South Carolina

COLUMBIA, SC - OCTOBER 06: Marcus Lattimore #21 of the South Carolina Gamecocks rushes upfield against the Georgia Bulldogs at Williams-Brice Stadium on October 6, 2012 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Getty Images

Marcus Lattimore, a South Carolina running back who is regarded by many observers as a likely first-round pick in the 2013 NFL draft, suffered an apparently serious leg injury during Saturday’s game against Tennessee.

Lattimore was hit high by one player and low by another on a second-quarter carry, and his leg bent awkwardly, in a manner reminiscent of Joe Theismann’s infamous compound fracture. Lattimore immediately screamed in pain as he went to the ground, and players on both teams looked sickened by what they had seen.

In a sad scene, the entire South Carolina team circled around Lattimore, with his teammates becoming emotional, and Lattimore covered his head with a towel and appeared to be sobbing as he was carted off the field.

Lattimore’s 2011 season was cut short when he suffered a torn ACL in his left knee. This injury was to his right leg.

A junior who is eligible for next year’s NFL draft, Lattimore is widely regarded as the top running back prospect in the country.