Marcus Lattimore Injury: Blame the Unreasonable Workload for USC RB Getting Hurt

The South Carolina Gamecocks won a hard-fought SEC contest on the road, defeating Mississippi St. Saturday 14-12. 

The victory came at a steep price. 

Star running back Marcus Lattimore left the game late in the fourth quarter with a knee injury. 

South Carolina has announced that the injury is a knee sprain, but there is a chance it could be worse. The school would not elaborate any more and Lattimore was seen walking to the locker room on crutches with a knee brace after South Carolina scored the go ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter. 

Lattimore is not only the best running back in the SEC, but along with LaMichael James, is possibly the best running back in the country. 

James carries a heavy workload, more so than many other of the top backs in the country. 

Lattimore has already carried the ball 146 times on the season. He ranks fourth in the country in yards and third in attempts. 

That is a heavy workload for a true sophomore who is still a teenager. 

There has not been a game all season where Lattimore has not carried the ball at least 17 times, including a 37-carry 246 yard performance against Navy less than a month ago. 

The injury is not only a big blow to Lattimore, but also a South Carolina team who is ranked in the Top 15 in the country. 

Whether or not it could have been prevented is the question that will be in head coach Steve Spurrier's head when he tries to go to sleep tonight. 

Giving a 19-year old the ball 21 times a game against SEC competition is a lot to ask. Lattimore has not disappointed and is the reason the Gamecocks are one of the top teams in the country. 

He carried the ball 249 times last season and is on pace for over 270 this year. 

How long he is out remains to be seen, but if he does miss significant time, many people will ask if he was overworked leading up to his injury.

While it is hard to say for sure, the question will always be in the minds of South Carolina fans.