Before the last game he ever played at South Carolina, running back Marcus Lattimore spoke to his teammates, urging them to take nothing for granted in life.
Then, his 13th-ranked Gamecocks went out to beat Tennessee, 38-35, on Oct. 27, 2012.
But while South Carolina won the game, it lost Lattimore. After breaking loose for a 28-yard touchdown run, Lattimore later was hit by a pair of Tennessee tacklers on a short run, causing a gruesome injury to his right leg.
His season was done, and possibly his football career.
“He’s going to do wonderful things,” South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier told reporters after the game. He then added: “I don’t know what field of life.”
Now, almost two years to the day from that injury, Lattimore’s NFL career is set to resume in earnest.
The 49ers running back, taken in the fourth round of the 2013 draft, is set to be activated in time to practice Wednesday.
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Because the 49ers have been using just two running backs, Frank Gore and Carlos Hyde, the addition of a healthy Lattimore would be a boost.
For two years, Lattimore – who has been on the non-football injury list since being drafted -- has mostly just continued to rehabilitate his knee and right leg, regaining strength and motion. He was cleared for practice for three weeks last season, but never was activated for a game.
Once Lattimore begins practice Wednesday, the 49ers will have 21 days to either activate him for game action, or sideline him for the rest of the season.
Niners head coach Jim Harbaugh believes the time is now right for Lattimore’s return to football.
“I’ve been watching off to the side, and I’m excited to watch him play football again,” Harbaugh told reporters this week. “You saw some of it in the offseason, but I think he’s further ahead from where he was, three, four months ago, and (I’m) excited to see that progress on the field. I’m looking forward to it.”
Before his final injury at South Carolina – he also had to rehabilitate a knee injury earlier in his career with the Gamecocks – Lattimore was certainly on his way to being a first-round draft pick. He ranked as one of the best running backs in the country.
The 5-foot-11, 221-pounder ran for 38 TDs over parts of three seasons, and 2,677 yards. He also was a fine receiver, with 74 receptions.
If Lattimore is fully healthy, he could provide the 49ers a big help offensively this year and in seasons to come.
Certainly, he is taking nothing for granted. It's been a long road back from Oct. 27, 2012.
