What Marcus Lattimore could bring to South Carolina recruiting
January 18, 2018
Marcus Lattimore had only started talking at his introductory press conference before mentioning something many Gamecocks fans likely thought about when news he’d again join South Carolina football broke.
Recruiting.
“When a recruit comes to visit South Carolina, I will sit him down, I will sit his family down and I’ll let all of them know, I’m not looking at what they’re doing on the field,” Lattimore said. “I’m looking at the next 40 years of their lives and what I can do to help them.”
The fact is, Lattimore’s name still carries a lot of weight, especially in the state and even around the SEC. He was beloved on campus with an engaging personality, and after playing he worked with kids through his foundation.
Coaches have strength staffs interact with recruits and become part of the pitch, and Lattimore’s role as a director of player development focused on life after football will almost certainly be a part of the pitch. He’ll get a first big chance at it this weekend, as South Carolina will reportedly have a large group of recruits coming in for visits.
“His story says it all,” Gamecocks coach Will Muschamp said. “Here’s a guy that could’ve probably had all the aspirations in the world to go play on Sunday afternoon and certainly had the ability and the drive and all the intangible things you want to have. Things happen. Tragic events happened in his life. And all of a sudden, that dream wasn’t there anymore. So what are you going to do?”
Muschamp noted a tiny percent of college players carve out much in the NFL.
“For our parents to be able to listen to his story, and for our players to be able to relate with him on a day-to-day basis and understand there’s more outside of Sunday afternoon,” Muschamp said. “I think that’s really important.”
January 18, 2018
Marcus Lattimore had only started talking at his introductory press conference before mentioning something many Gamecocks fans likely thought about when news he’d again join South Carolina football broke.
Recruiting.
“When a recruit comes to visit South Carolina, I will sit him down, I will sit his family down and I’ll let all of them know, I’m not looking at what they’re doing on the field,” Lattimore said. “I’m looking at the next 40 years of their lives and what I can do to help them.”
The fact is, Lattimore’s name still carries a lot of weight, especially in the state and even around the SEC. He was beloved on campus with an engaging personality, and after playing he worked with kids through his foundation.
Coaches have strength staffs interact with recruits and become part of the pitch, and Lattimore’s role as a director of player development focused on life after football will almost certainly be a part of the pitch. He’ll get a first big chance at it this weekend, as South Carolina will reportedly have a large group of recruits coming in for visits.
“His story says it all,” Gamecocks coach Will Muschamp said. “Here’s a guy that could’ve probably had all the aspirations in the world to go play on Sunday afternoon and certainly had the ability and the drive and all the intangible things you want to have. Things happen. Tragic events happened in his life. And all of a sudden, that dream wasn’t there anymore. So what are you going to do?”
Muschamp noted a tiny percent of college players carve out much in the NFL.
“For our parents to be able to listen to his story, and for our players to be able to relate with him on a day-to-day basis and understand there’s more outside of Sunday afternoon,” Muschamp said. “I think that’s really important.”
