Marcus Lattimore did not have a typical Pro Day. In fact, he did not really have a Pro Day at all and yet his draft stock is officially on the rise. The South Carolina running back was considered to be the best back in to enter the NFL draft, but a gruesome leg injury mid-way through the 2012 season had many wondering if he would ever play football again. However, at South Carolina's Pro Day, Lattimore was able to work out and won over every NFL scout in the process.
Less than six months after surgery to repair an ACL tear and PCL tear, Lattimore worked out in front of 32 NFL scouts who gave him a standing ovation when it was over. Lattimore caught passes, went through agility drills and showed off rehab exercises proving that he is on his way to being healthy again.
"It was crazy. I did not expect that at all. Pretty much every scout came up to me and said that was amazing and inspiring," Lattimore told media after the workout.
South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier said that Lattimore's draft stock could have risen into the first-round with that work out. There is no question he would have been the best running back prior to getting hurt. Before the injury in 2012, he accumulated 662 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns on just 143 rushing attempts.
The question becomes, where and when he will be drafted. Lattimore will likely spend the beginning if not all of the 2013 season on injured-reserve while he continues to get healthy, but a team will take a chance on him. Lattimore admits he has heard he will go in just about every round of the NFL draft. Many experts rank him in the 60's amongst all of the players entering the draft.
The team he has been most linked to is the San Francisco 49ers. The team has 14 picks in this year's draft. With two picks in the second round and an early pick in the third round, they could set themselves up to land Lattimore. The 49ers are not necessarily in desperate need for a back while they still have Frank Gore. But they could draft Lattimore, keep him on IR so that he does not take up a roster spot and have him get healthy and be the successor to the starting running back who is not getting any younger.
Lattimore has proven to have the talent to be successful in the NFL. There is still optimism that he could see playing time in 2013 and there is no doubt he will be on the field in 2014.
