Early praise for Lattimore
| South Carolina's Patrick DiMarco speaks at SEC Media Days |
HOOVER, Ala. – Steve Spurrier wasn’t able to say much about freshman tailback Marcus Lattimore because he’s not been allowed to watch him in the voluntary summer workouts, which are off-limits to coaches.
But someone who has attended the 7-on-7 passing drills said the Parade All-American has been as good as advertised.
“He’s a good player. If I were to go out there and see him, I’d think he’d been there for a year or two,” South Carolina fullback/tight end Patrick DiMarco said Thursday during the second day of SEC Media Days. “He’s fitting right in and doing everything everyone’s asking him to do.”
As for Lattimore’s running style, DiMarco said he looks like a combination of several of USC’s returning backs.
“He has some of the Jarvis Giles quick-twitch. He has size like Brian Maddox. He’s 215 pounds,” DiMarco said. “And he has good hands surprisingly, which we’ve been worried about in our backs the last couple of years. … So hopefully he’ll be a benefit to the team.”
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| South Carolina's Shaq Wilson speaks at SEC Media Days |
DiMarco and USC linebacker Shaq Wilson said tight end Weslye Saunders has continued working out amidst a NCAA investigation into his role in a South Beach trip allegedly funded by an agent.
“He’s been at every single workout. He hasn’t missed a beat,” DiMarco said. “With all the stuff going on, he’s been at the workouts, practicing and making all his conditioning times and doing everything that’s asked of him. He’s in a tough situation right now. Hopefully it works out for him.”
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| South Carolina's Cliff Matthews speaks at SEC Media Days |
DE Cliff Matthews came to Columbia as a 230-pound freshman. He enters his final season as a 270-pound senior (re-checked my notes — make that 275 pounds).
Matthews, who has gained about 15 pounds from his 2009 playing weight, said he is eating four sizable meals a day with little regard to fat grams or calories per serving.
“I eat everything,” he said. “But I exercise.”
Matthews said he wanted to get bigger to help get off the blocks of opposing offensive tackles.
9 Comments to “Early praise for Lattimore”
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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. 
SC got an all-timer in Lattimore.
Advertised as a good kid,we build on him.
A back of his caliber makes his team look good.
Special players make special plays on special days. Period.
I’m excited! A 215 lb running back who runs a 4.4? Thats a beast. And Cliff at 270 is going to be a problem. Lets go!
Jeezy’s got it right.
George Rogers was a special player. He was reliably good for 6-7 yards a carry, frequently ripping of 30 yards a run. Almost unstoppable. Made the entire team look good.
Lattimore does not run a 4.4 forty. He has good football speed but not world class speed. Matthews is one of our keys to a big season. So is DiMarco and Wilson – those are three good chemistry players as well. If only our offense can get on track early, we’ve got a chance to have a fine season. We should not put any pressure on Lattimore. Miles is still a stud and Giles and Maddox are fine fine role playing backs. BTW, there will never be another George Rogers. He was a one of a kind back and the Good Lord broke the mold when he made Boo.
Dimarco is a back. Is he saying he can’t catch a football, or is he trying to get ready for his career as a coach.
Why don’t you ask him yourself orange lover!
I watched the Shaq Wilson video and was so impressed with that young man. Wow what a well spoken mentally sharp young man. Same for Patrick Dimarco. They are not just good athletes, they are good student athletes and along with Cliff Matthews will be excellent leaders for our team.
I’ll put on every stitch of orange Clemson clothing I own and walk right up to him and ask him whatever the HELL I want, little mikeybuttwipe! What’s it to ya? Are you afraid of DiMarco? Stop making stupid comments!
Typical loudmouth tater…all tough guy talk from behind his keyboard. Get ready to take another buttwhippin this year up in Dung Valley, loser.