NESN

Marcus Lattimore Says He’s Going to Make Return to Playing Football at South Carolina

Marcus Lattimore intends to return to football, and he intends to return to the University of South Carolina.

The Gamecocks running back, who suffered a gruesome knee injury Saturday against Tennessee, is still planning to come back to college football, head coach Steve Spurrier revealed on Monday.

Speaking at a rally on campus — Monday was declared "Marcus Lattimore Day" in South Carolina — Spurrier revealed that Lattimore told him he planned to be back.

"The message he gave me was, 'I'll be back,'" Spurrier told a crowd of fans and students, according to ESPN.com. "So he's coming back."

Spurrier believes Lattimore can do it.

"Can't wait until that 21 is playing out there at Williams-Brice real soon," Spurrier said.

Lattimore suffered a horrific knee dislocation on Saturday against the Vols, an injury that also resulted in severe ligament damage, effectively blowing up the running back's knee. It's unclear when Lattimore may be able to return, as he's yet to undergo surgery. There is a chance, however, that he could return to the Gamecocks in 2014 after redshirting for the '13 season.

Lattimore has already had to make a comeback from a knee injury before. He tore a ligament in his other knee in 2011, but he was able to make a full recovery.