Marcus Lattimore Injury: What's Next for South Carolina If His Season Is Over?

Although the South Carolina Gamecocks were victorious in their first game without starting quarterback Stephen Garcia, the Gamecocks lost much more.

During a running play for South Carolina, a Mississippi State player dove for the ball carrier, but hit Lattimore in his knee while he was blocking a defensive back.

Lattimore was taken to the locker room on crutches with a sprained left knee. 

Head coach Steve Spurrier said that Lattimore will be "out a while."

There is a lot of vagueness in Spurrier's comments, but no matter how long Lattimore is out, it is something the Gamecocks can ill afford to have right now.

Lattimore's absence on the field could be devastating for South Carolina. In seven games, Lattimore led the team with 779 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. Not to mention, he was a leading candidate for the Heisman Trophy.

The real problem for South Carolina will be their replacement for Lattimore if he is forced to miss an extended period of time.

The team's second-leading rusher is former quarterback Stephen Garcia, who was dismissed earlier this week for testing positive for marijuana and alcohol.

The team's third-leading rusher is current starting quarterback Connor Shaw. However, Lattimore's injury will force Shaw to throw the ball more often, so he won't be as big of a running threat.

That leaves Brandon Wilds, a freshman running back who has only rushed for 67 yards on eight attempts the entire season.

Wilds, who is 6'1", 223 pounds, has a similar build to Lattimore, so the Gamecocks should not have to adjust their running game too much. But there is no doubt what kind of major impact Lattimore's injury will have on South Carolina's offense. 

Part of the reason that made players like Alshon Jeffery and Ace Sanders so effective, was the defense being forced to focus a lot of attention on Marcus Lattimore. Now that defenses can adjust their focus to the South Carolina passing game, it could have a big effect on the Gamecocks' passing success.

This will also serve as a big boost to South Carolina's opponents who have trouble stopping the run like Florida and Arkansas.

For example, against Florida last season, Lattimore ran for more than 200 yards and three touchdowns. If Lattimore isn't available against the Gators in a couple weeks, it gives a team like Florida a much greater chance of winning that game. This is the kind of repercussion that Lattimore's injury will have on the Gamecocks.

With tough games left against Tennessee, Florida, Arkansas and Clemson, the Gamecocks will have to rely on their defensive line and the arm of Shaw if they expect to keep their SEC Championship hopes alive.