Worthy of praise: Lattimore picks USC

SPARTANBURG - Part of Auburn's recruiting pitch to Marcus Lattimore was the chance to play the Wildcat in the Tigers' offense.

Auburn recruiters told Lattimore he could be the next Darren McFadden, the ex-Arkansas tailback who thrived in the Wildcat when Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn was with the Razorbacks.

At South Carolina, Lattimore said he has the chance to be the first "Marcus" - and he hopes to begin working on that legacy ASAP.

Lattimore ended an intense recruiting battle Tuesday when he picked the home-state Gamecocks - but not before adding some last-second drama to the proceedings at Silver Hill United Methodist Church.

Lattimore, the Byrnes High tailback rated the nation's top running back prospect by Scout.com and Rivals.com, called former Auburn tailback and Spartanburg native Stephen Davis to the front of the sanctuary.

Davis gave Lattimore an Auburn hat. But Lattimore pulled out a Gamecocks hat from under the Auburn cap and put on the garnet hat, eliciting a loud ovation from the crowd of 300 as "Sandstorm" blared over the church's sound system.

Lattimore will hear that song a lot at Williams-Brice Stadium come September.

"There's only one goal on my mind, and that's to beat Southern Miss," Lattimore said, referring to the Gamecocks' opening-game opponent next season.

Lattimore's sister Eboni White graduated from USC last year, but Lattimore said he grew up rooting for LSU. Lattimore said USC was the best fit for him - and it didn't hurt that Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier felt comfortable around his family.

"That's where my heart is," Lattimore said of USC. "And (Spurrier) did the cha-cha slide with my Mama."

Lattimore, who was recruited by 30 schools before narrowing his list to USC and Auburn, said he finalized his decision last weekend after Spurrier's in-home visit, which included the dance with Lattimore's mother Yolanda Smith.

Smith initially danced with Spurrier at a Gamecocks' basketball game during Lattimore's official visit but promised him they would try it again with the right music.

"I felt like he needed to loosen up a little bit," Smith said. "I told him I would teach him to loosen his hips and that would loosen his whole body up."

Spurrier should be relaxed after the Gamecocks landed their biggest target on the eve of National Signing Day.

Lattimore, the state's 'Mr. Football' who ran for 1,898 yards and 31 touchdowns as a senior at Byrnes, will become the highest-rated to tailback to sign with USC since Lexington's Demetris Summers in 2003.

Summers and Derek Watson, another highly-touted, instate tailback, were dismissed from USC because of marijuana-related incidents. But Smith said she never had any disciplinary problems with Lattimore, the youngest of four siblings.

Lattimore said he would report to USC on June 1 for the start of summer school. He will wear No. 21, his number at Byrnes, and believes he will have an immediate chance to help a USC rushing attack that has ranked last in the SEC three years in a row.

"They know my skills and know what I can do," Lattimore said. "But I was never guaranteed a starting spot, I can tell you that. I think if I can come in and work hard enough I can be out there the first game."

In an interview following his visit to USC, Lattimore questioned the direction of USC's offense after Gamecock running backs had 10 rushes in the Papajohns.com Bowl loss to Connecticut. But Lattimore said Spurrier's offense will prepare him for the NFL because it requires him to pass block and catch passes out of the backfield.

And though Lattimore stressed that he is "just another piece to the puzzle" at USC, one of his future teammates said it is a big piece.

Boiling Springs quarterback Dylan Thompson, who will sign with the Gamecocks today, played against Lattimore every year since the two were in seventh grade. Thompson said Spurrier has emphasized the importance of landing Lattimore.

"That's what he's been telling us the whole time - Marcus is the missing piece," Thompson said. "And we all believe in that. Hopefully, that'll come true and in a couple of years we'll have some rings."