It took a song and dance from coach Steve Spurrier, but the nation's No. 1 running back from the Class of 2010 and No. 2 recruit overall Marcus Lattimore (Byrnes HS, Duncan, S.C.) has picked South Carolina over Auburn.
Photo by Cecil CopelandMarcus Lattimore.
The rugged 6-foot-1, 215-pound senior made his announcement Tuesday night before a packed local church.
Lattimore first put on an Auburn cap to the dismay of many of the South Carolina locals, but then he lifted the cap to show a South Carolina cap, setting off a wild celebration.
"It's the best fit for me," Lattimore said. "It's where my heart is. ... Plus coach did the South Carolina Cha Cha Slide for my mom."
Lattimore had told reporters weeks ago that he was leaning toward Auburn but during his last visit to Columbia, about a 70-minute drive from his home in Duncan, his heart leaned back toward the Gamecocks. Spurrier's dance for his mom Yolanda Smith evidently gave Lattimore the home-spun feeling he was looking for.
He said he made up his mind Sunday and called Spurrier on Monday night.
"He was very fired up," Lattimore said. "He said 'All right man, get down here.' "
Lattimore leaned toward Auburn at first, he said, partly because he probably had a better chance to play right away.
"It's a great school and I loved everyone down there," he said. "It's no disrespect to Auburn at all. It just wasn't the right fit."
Lattimore is coveted not only as a powerful and elusive back, a workhorse who carred the ball a remarkable 763 times in his three years as starter for 5,492 yards and 98 touchdowns, but he also has soft hands and is an effective blocker.
He had 52 catches for 753 yards and five touchdowns last season for the Rebels. More than all of his physical skills, Lattimore is a tremendous leader in the locker room. He's soft spoken and humble.
The announcement lifted a giant weight off his shoulders he said.
"I feel like I've lost 50 pounds," he said.
With Lattimore now decided, only Seantrel Henderson (Cretin-Derham Hall, St. Paul, Minn.), the nation's top recruit, has yet to announce his college attentions among Tom Lemming's Top 25 selections. He's expected to announce his pick between Ohio State, Florida State and USC Wednesday at CBS television studios in New York.
SEE FEATURE feature I wrote after meeting Lattimore last season in Dec. 2008.
READ FEATURE MaxPreps senior writer Dave Krider wrote on Lattimore last month.
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