Decision day for Lattimore
Other than the office NCAA tournament pool and the occasional six-pack bet when the Phillies are in the postseason (Kevin McCrarey, you still owe me), I’m not much for gambling.
But if I had to wager on the Marcus Lattimore decision and my kids’ college tuition were riding on it, I’d go with USC over Auburn.
That’s not Gospel, of course (you’ll excuse the metaphor, Lattimore is making his announcement at his Methodist church in Spartanburg).
Call it an educated hunch.
Lattimore’s sister went to USC. He grew up pulling for the Gamecocks. Nick Jones, his friend and Byrnes teammates, is headed to USC.
And most – not all – of the folks I’ve spoken with seem to think he’s going to end up in Columbia.
Phil Kornblut, whose recruiting notes appear on The State’s pages as well as seemingly every other media outlet across the state, reported last month (citing a source) that Lattimore indicated after his official visit to USC he planned to sign with the Gamecocks.
Kornblut was doing his job, which I happen to think he does fairly and objectively.
For obvious reasons, recruits who schedule press conferences to make their announcements don’t like having the news break before that time. If the suspense is gone, what’s the point?
Lattimore denied to Kornblut that he had decided on USC, and, in his next public comments to the Spartanburg Herald-Journal, gave Auburn a slight lead and questioned USC’s offensive identity.
Was it smoke to screen his choice? Maybe.
“If I go to South Carolina, I’d be a big-time receiver out of the backfield and I’d also run the ball a lot,” Lattimore told the Web site. “I’m excited about that because I love catching the ball. I know it’s going to be a challenge, but I’ve seen when coach Spurrier was at Florida, when he had a great tailback like Fred Taylor and Errict Rhett and how he used them. I’ve seen tape on how he used them.”
But Lattimore also said he could make plays at Auburn, saying he would be used in the Wildcat scheme as Darren McFadden was at Arkansas.
So USC or Auburn?
We’ll find out around 6:30 this evening (Lattimore’s mother has prepared a short, spiritual program that will precede his announcement).
As I said, I don’t bet. But if I did, I like the home team.
17 Comments to “Decision day for Lattimore”
Leave a Reply
USC football beat writer Joe Person has covered the Gamecocks since the start of the 2002 season. He's been on the college football beat since 1993. 
Also, would he invite a bunch of people from the state of South Carolina to his presser and then choose Auburn?
Hope you’re right. He would provide a huge boost to this class.
PS – I’m psyched we got a run stuffer in Byron Jerideau last night. We need some interior help to eventually rplace Ladi.
Lattimore can be the answer the Gamecocks need.I think he can be a difference maker. Please come to Columbia.
[...] SC blogg hereDecision day for Lattimore | Joe Person on Football [...]
As our in state young men will learn, they can go pro from anywhere ! Let us hope more and more will remain in state to raise U.S.C. in the sporting world and our level of play!! GO GAMECOCKS!!!
I hope our young men will see that you can achieve those dreams of going pro from anywhere if you have the talent. I hope more will remain in state to raise USC in the sporting world, for the fans and for themselves, then we can follow our young men we have watched grow up in the game and be there if needed in the future.GO GAMECOCKS!
I agree with USC88. I’m hopeful that Marcus ends up at USC and am almost as excited that we got that big body on the DL for 3 years. I’m not going to say that Ellis Johnson doesn’t do a great job with the Gamecocks’ D but anyone who watched the team last year could see that we were a bit undermanned on the DL last year. We have a speed defense but could have used some meat on the line. At times teams seemed to just run up the gut at will. Maybe Byron can help stop that next year.
I hope you’re right. Either way I like how this kid has handled it. The anticipation is kind of exciting. If he announces USC I hope he starts texting some of the others on the ledge and convince them to join him.
Being an Auburn graduate, I sure would like to Have Marcus, but hey, it’s his decision and I respect whatever he decides and wish him the best of luck in his future.
Marcus is a complete young man. We at Carolina have consistenly brought in talent. We need talent that wants to win and do whatever(as a team not an individual) it takes to make that happen. He would be a incredible asset to an already bright future I think we have in columbia with our young players. i also hope Matt is right. Have Latti twittering and bring some of those others play makers on the fence with him. There sure wouldnt be any complaining from this guy about that!
Come to Carolina Marcus and stand shoulder to shoulder with two Heisman Award recipients in Steve Spurrier and George Rogers. Man, the suspense is aging me real fast.
Obviously, I’m hopeful that the young man chooses Auburn but, we as adults, need for this young man to choose the path that is best for him.
Good post Joe.
And now let the playa haters from Pickens County begin…
Seems like you want someone to say something, cockdr. Can’t live without it, huh? What’s really funny is your pimplyass whitebread burger flippin’ attempt at sounding black and tough. “playa”, really? Please. Anyway, good luck, Lattimore. From what everyone has seen, you’ll be by far the best player on that team.
Future is so bright i have to wear shades….Looking good Lewis..Feeling good Billy Ray!!!Bob Marley says Get Up Stand Up!!Aikens finest (James Brown) says I Feeeeel Gooood!! Marcus knew he wanted to play REAL football not bush league acc jv crap…welcome to the NFL college style league SEC…GO COCKS!!! For those who choose to play in the acc we know your just a little scared and not man enough to play Big Boy football…Parker are you Man Enough?
I live in big 12 country at least they have an argument and somewhat contend for the national championship…anyone envolved in acc football, if thats what you want to call it, is simply in dreamland..I’ve been around a while so help me with my memory, when was the last time an acc team contended for a national title in football(don’t include Miami/Fla St. pre acc)? I guess the acc should stick with basketball , but wait I see Kentucky(SEC) owning that sport too in the near future..oh well sorry acc. Got to figure out how to spell joke out of acc. He He Ha Ha