Marcus Lattimore speaks on South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame honor

Former South Carolina All-American running back Marcus Lattimore headlines the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame’s class of 2024 which is set to be honored during the Hall’s Induction Banquet Monday evening.

While Lattimore, one of the Gamecocks’ all-time greats regardless of sport, will not be present for the banquet, he posted a message on his Instagram this weekend thanking those who helped him reach the milestone.

“South Carolina, thank you so much,” Lattimore said. “I’m honored to be a Hall of Fame member for the class of 2024 for the state of South Carolina. There’s no higher achievement a small country boy from South Carolina could ever imagine in athletes. Unfortunately, I will not be present, my mom will be accepting the award on my behalf but I want to thank my fabulous teammates.

“I want to thank my coaching staff throughout that time. It was a beautiful journey, made a lot of memories. And I’ve got a poem on the way for it. Thank y’all. Love y’all. See y’all soon.”

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In the years since his playing days ended, Lattimore has found a love for poetry and his latest work will honor another Gamecock all-time great, he says.

“The name of it is Samadhi and it’s slightly an ode to one of my fabulous teammates that really instilled that mindset for that era and his name is D.J. Swearinger,” Lattimore said. “He had us violent out there and I would not be a Hall of Famer without his influence and a lot of other leaders on that team.”

Also being inducted in this year’s class is Clemson University golfer Lucas Glover of Greenville, University of North Carolina and York Comprehensive High School great Ivory Latta of McConnells, former NBA standout and coach Clifford Ray of Union, Coastal Carolina quarterback Tyler Thigpen of Winnsboro, S.C. State football coach Oree Banks, College of Charleston and North Charleston basketball star Anthony Johnson, Clemson baseball coach Jack Leggett, Chester and Harvard basketball great Allison Feaster and Columbia basketball legend William Partlow.

The SCAHOF Banquet is the largest annual celebration of Palmetto State sports stars under one roof. The tradition of recognizing past inductees, the “Walk of Legends,” is one of the event’s highlights. The affair, which includes a reception and dinner, begins at 5:30 p.m.

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Despite an abbreviated career due to injury (2010-12), Lattimore ranked sixth on the University of South Carolina’s all-time rushing list with 2,677 yards, and owned the school record for rushing touchdowns (38) and overall touchdowns (41). His best season came as a freshman in 2010 when he rushed for 1,197 yards on 249 carries. He was named SEC Freshman of the Year and also earned unanimous Freshman All-American honors.

In 2010, Lattimore rushed for 182 yards on 37 carries in the Gamecocks’ 17-6 victory over Georgia. Against top-ranked Alabama, he had 23 carries for 93 yards, two rushing touchdowns and one receiving touchdown in USC’s 35-21 upset win. He rushed 40 times for 212 yards and three TDs in a 36-14 win at Florida that clinched the Gamecocks’ first SEC Eastern Division title.

The Duncan, S.C. native was a fourth-round pick by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2013 NFL Draft. He never played a game for the 49ers and retired from playing football at the age of 23.

He founded the Marcus Lattimore Foundation, which is committed to youth and initiatives, emphasizing Christian values, character, life-skills development, education and health and wellness in South Carolina.

Lattimore served as the head football coach at Heathwood Hall prep school (2016-17) in Columbia and two years as the Gamecocks’ Director of Player Development (2018-19).

Lattimore prepped at Byrnes high school where he had nearly 8,000 rushing and receiving yards and scored 104 touchdowns during his career. He led Byrnes to 4A state titles in 2005, 2007 and 2008. He was named Parade Magazine All-American, South Carolina’s Mr. Football, S.C.’s Gatorade Player of the Year and one of seven finalists for U.S. Army national player of the year in 2009.

University of South Carolina and South Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame media relations contributed to this story.

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