Lattimore impresses at Pro Day

[augustisback003]

This is great news, his injury was once considered career ending, I'm glad he was able to recover and fulfill his goal of playing in the NFL.

excerpt~

South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore still is working his way back from a gruesome knee injury with the hope that some team will roll the dice on his long-term upside in the earlier rounds of next month's draft. Apparently he looked impressive enough during a workout Wednesday for all 32 NFL teams that the representatives burst into spontaneous applause at the end of the workout, according to USAToday.com's Robert Klemko.

"It was crazy," he told USA TODAY Sports when reacting to the ovation. "I did not expect that at all. Pretty much every scout came up to me and said that was amazing and inspiring."

Considering the gravity of his knee injury (torn ACL, LCL and PCL), the fact that he was able to take part in a number of football drills at this point is impressive in its own right. It's highly unlikely that he will be physically ready to contribute when the 2013 season kicks off in September, but certainly some team will give him a shot as a long-term project. The only question is how far he will fall in the draft before a team thinks he's worth the risk.

NFL Rumors Blog - ESPN

 

[CrashDavisSports]

Any idea on his numbers during his pro day?

 

[vancelot23]

I'm guessing 3rd round at the earliest, but more likely 4th or 5th.

 

[kramer1]

I'm guessing 3rd round at the earliest, but more likely 4th or 5th.

I'd say mid 2nd at the absolute latest.

 

[vancelot23]

I'd say mid 2nd at the absolute latest.

Drinking already?

 

[CrashDavisSports]

I think pre-injury, Lattimore was the top RB in the nation, and would have been a sure fired 1st round pick.

Scouts respect where he has come after the injury, but that was a serious injury, and who knows how that is going to hold up under the pressures of the NFL. I don't think Lattimore gets drafted any earlier than the 3rd, and no later than the 4th.

I say no later, because he was a 1st round pick pre-injury, which means, if he can make a full recovery and maintain his health, he will again be a top talent. Lot of risk though, which is what drops him, but a ton of upside which is what limits his floor also.

 

[cincygrad]

Willis McGahee still went in the first after having his leg nearly ripped from his body in the NC game in January.

I don't expect Lattimore to go that high, but wouldn't be shocked to see a late 2nd round pick used on him.

 

[24seven]

He has an incredible work ethic and is indeed an inspiration to those around him. He's worth the risk, because if it is humanly possible to recover from the injury, he will do it. Hell, he's worth the money just for the example he will set for his teammates and the attitude boost he'll bring to the locker room.
And then there's what he can do on the field.
Granted, I'm a homer fan of his, but as a Gamecock sportswriter I've also watched the process closely (and also during his previous injury recovery). He is truly a special guy.

 

[vancelot23]

I'm a huge fan, and I hope he dominates, but NFL RBs generally have short careers anyway, and one who comes in with an injury history is going to scare teams. I love him, but wouldn't touch him til the 3rd.

 

[Tubbs1518]

I'm a huge fan, and I hope he dominates, but NFL RBs generally have short careers anyway, and one who comes in with an injury history is going to scare teams. I love him, but wouldn't touch him til the 3rd.

If he was there late 3rd I'd take a shot on him, def if he was there in the 4th.

 

[CrashDavisSports]

If he was there late 3rd I'd take a shot on him, def if he was there in the 4th.

Agree 100%.

 

[DanBengalfan]

If he's any good, the Bengals will overlook him.