Marcus Lattimore Injury: 5 Reasons He Will Bounce Back and Become NFL Star

South Carolina's Heisman candidate running back Marcus Lattimore was forced out of the Gamecocks' win over Mississippi State in Week 7 with a sprained knee.

The injury is a huge blow to the Gamecocks, who have relied on the sophomore back heavily in 2011 and now face the harsh reality of moving on without him for the rest of the season.

Lattimore was among the top backs in college football before the injury and remains a highly-touted NFL prospect despite his uncertain future.

Let's take a closer look at five reasons why Marcus Lattimore will bounce back from his latest injury to become a future NFL superstar.

No. 1: NFL Size and Strength

Still just a sophomore, Lattimore has one of the best bodies of any running back in college football.

Lattimore's 6'1", 232-pound frame allows him to bruise defenders on nearly every touch while still having the athleticism and speed to outrun safeties and corners to the end zone.

Lattimore's strength was validated before the injury by his ridiculous 412 carries in just 1.5 seasons in Columbia.

No. 2: Excellent Hands

Lattimore has three receiving touchdowns in his short Gamecock career and 48 catches total dating back to 2010.

The sensational sophomore even has two 50-plus yard receptions to his name already.

Lattimore's soft hands make him just as deadly a target in the passing game as in the running game, an asset that will make him a hot commodity in the NFL.

No. 3: Red Zone Scoring

Lattimore's versatile running style makes him virtually unstoppable inside the red zone.

As a freshman in 2010, Lattimore racked up 17 touchdowns on the ground to help lead the upstart Gamecocks to the SEC Championship Game.

Before his injury this season, Lattimore had scored 10 times for South Carolina on the ground, giving them an unmatched red zone threat.

No. 4: Durability

Although his injury would have you believe otherwise, Marcus Lattimore is one of the more durable players in college football.

Only 18 players had more rush attempts than Lattimore in 2010, and before the injury, he was on pace to surpass his 249 carries from a season ago.

Alabama's Mark Ingram was another SEC back who fought through injury recently, and is now having a solid rookie season in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints.

No. 5: Only a Sophomore

Despite his hefty resume, Marcus Lattimore is only a sophomore.

At age 19, Lattimore likely has two more seasons to prove himself in college football barring another sidelining injury.

The 2009 High School All-American and 2010 All-America Second Team player will most likely be headed to New York for the Heisman Trophy Award ceremony before his college career is over.

Follow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Patrick Clarke on Twitter @_Pat_Clarke