Marcus Lattimore Injury: How Does His Season-Ending Injury Impact Heisman Race?

South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore is out for the season with a torn knee ligament, according to several sources including the Charleston Post. Lattimore suffered the injury in the Gamecocks' 14-12 win over Mississippi State on Saturday.

A preseason Heisman candidate, Lattimore recorded 818 yards and 10 touchdowns on 163 carries through the last seven games with an average of five yards per attempt. The Duncan, South Carolina native was well on his way to crushing his freshman line of 1197 yards and 17 touchdowns, but it looks like those numbers will remain career highs for now.

His injury definitely puts the Gamecocks in a bind, as their second leading rusher in quarterback Stephen Garcia was dismissed three days ago.

As for the Heisman race, Lattimore's knock should have little impact.

In terms of running backs, Pittsburgh's Ray Graham, Oregon's LaMichael James and Temple's Bernard Pierce will shatter Lattimore's current stat line. That does not even mention Alabama's Trent Richardson, who will likely be a Heisman finalist.

With the plethora of quarterbacks who have put in a much better body of work, Lattimore had already fallen down the list of Heisman hopefuls before his injury set in. That is to say, Andrew Luck, Kellen Moore, Landry Jones and Robert Griffin have all had bigger says in their campaigns for the Heisman Trophy, making Lattimore a sincere afterthought in the competition.

South Carolina will be in trouble without its star tailback, that is for certain.

Another certainty, the Hesiman race will be just as exciting without the former five-star recruit.