By MATT CONNOLLY
Goupstate.com
COLUMBIA — When Marcus Lattimore's season came to an abrupt end last year due to a knee injury suffered against Mississippi St., South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier said he expected his star running back to return in 2012 stronger than ever.
As spring workouts came to a close Saturday, it appears as though Spurrier will be right about the former Byrnes star.
After the Black's 38-24 win over the Garnet in the annual spring game, Lattimore said that he will be ready to go for the upcoming season.
“I feel like I'm pretty much almost back to full strength in my right leg. I have complete confidence in it right now,” the rising junior said.
“I've been running on land for about two months now. May 2 will be the day I start to cut. I'm really excited about that.”
Lattimore looked like he had returned to form as he walked into the press room to answer questions after watching the game. There was no noticeable limp or sign that he was recovering from a horrific knee injury, an injury he said has changed the way he views his body. The former National Freshman of the Year said he won't take anything for granted moving forward.
“I honestly wasn't doing everything to keep myself in the shape I was supposed to be in. I wasn't getting in the hot tub and cold tub and stretching like I was supposed to,” he said.
“I'll never take those things for granted again.”
Lattimore said that it was hard sitting out while his teammates went through practices this spring, but he was still able to get better as a football player without being on the field.
“I say it all the time, just watching them run and do the things that I used to do is real hard. I just stay focused on getting better every day in some way. I feel like I'm a master of the offense now because I've studied it so much,” he said.
“I'm in the meeting room paying attention. I'm obviously getting stronger and getting my legs right while they're practicing. I feel like I'm getting better every day.”
Goupstate.com
COLUMBIA — When Marcus Lattimore's season came to an abrupt end last year due to a knee injury suffered against Mississippi St., South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier said he expected his star running back to return in 2012 stronger than ever.
As spring workouts came to a close Saturday, it appears as though Spurrier will be right about the former Byrnes star.
After the Black's 38-24 win over the Garnet in the annual spring game, Lattimore said that he will be ready to go for the upcoming season.
“I feel like I'm pretty much almost back to full strength in my right leg. I have complete confidence in it right now,” the rising junior said.
“I've been running on land for about two months now. May 2 will be the day I start to cut. I'm really excited about that.”
Lattimore looked like he had returned to form as he walked into the press room to answer questions after watching the game. There was no noticeable limp or sign that he was recovering from a horrific knee injury, an injury he said has changed the way he views his body. The former National Freshman of the Year said he won't take anything for granted moving forward.
“I honestly wasn't doing everything to keep myself in the shape I was supposed to be in. I wasn't getting in the hot tub and cold tub and stretching like I was supposed to,” he said.
“I'll never take those things for granted again.”
Lattimore said that it was hard sitting out while his teammates went through practices this spring, but he was still able to get better as a football player without being on the field.
“I say it all the time, just watching them run and do the things that I used to do is real hard. I just stay focused on getting better every day in some way. I feel like I'm a master of the offense now because I've studied it so much,” he said.
“I'm in the meeting room paying attention. I'm obviously getting stronger and getting my legs right while they're practicing. I feel like I'm getting better every day.”