Marcus Lattimore Should Think About NFL Future Before Rushing Back from Injury

South Carolina was able to keep its SEC championship hopes alive with a closer-than-it-should-have-been (14-12) victory over Mississippi State, but it was a bad day all around for the team because star running back Marcus Lattimore suffered a season-ending knee injury in the fourth quarter.

There was some hope that the injury was not as bad as initially feared, but head coach Steve Spurrier broke the news on Sunday afternoon. 

Lattimore was South Carolina's offense this season, with 818 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. With all the turmoil surrounding the quarterback position and Stephen Garcia's dismissal earlier this week, the Gamecocks needed their superstar to carry them through SEC play for the rest of the year. 

Now, not only does Lattimore have to worry about how the team will respond without him, but also what will happen to him in the future. 

Lattimore is a true sophomore, which means that he still has one more year to go before he is eligible for the NFL draft. He has a lot of decisions to make over the next few months. 

It was the left ACL in Lattimore's knee that was damaged. He is going to need surgery to repair the leg. Typical recovery time from this kind of injury is at least nine months, so barring any setbacks, he should be in game shape by next July or August. 

The problem is he will have missed all of spring practice, and even when he does come back, it take time to re-assimilate yourself back into the speed and physical nature of SEC football. 

Lattimore has been a team player from the first day that he stepped foot on South Carolina's campus. He wants what is best for the program, and he knows that he is an integral part of what Spurrier is trying to build. 

There comes a point, though, where he has to think about what is in his best interest. It takes a special talent to play in the NFL, and Lattimore has that kind of talent. 

Pressure is going to come from outside sources for Lattimore to rush back onto the field, but he has to treat his comeback with kid gloves. He needs to worry more about his best interests long-term and not South Carolina's short-term needs.