Marcus Lattimore: ‘I will fully comply’ on NCAA ruling

It was a decision that tore him, but Marcus Lattimore couldn’t give up something that so perfectly marries two of his life’s loves.

“Well, anybody in athletics cannot do football camps. It’s as simple as that,” Lattimore exclusively told The State on Monday. “There was no getting around that rule. I just really had to make a decision on, ‘Do I want to be tied to one thing, or do I want to help all the youth in this state?’ ”

Lattimore issued a statement Monday after the NCAA ruled on Friday that he could not take a position on Will Muschamp’s football staff at South Carolina. Citing an unfair recruiting advantage, Lattimore was told he couldn’t be a paid part of Muschamp’s staff if he wanted to continue doing his camps.

Lattimore has worked numerous football camps and helped South Carolina youth through The Marcus Lattimore Foundation since he re-enrolled at USC after his NFL career ended. Set to graduate on May 6 with a degree in public health, Lattimore had already accepted a role on Muschamp’s staff, although he couldn’t officially start it until he graduated.

Now he’ll never start it. And while he’s not fazed by the ruling – there will be no shortage of organizations offering Lattimore a job and there is nothing prohibiting him from promoting USC and Gamecock football to any youth he talks to – it’s a bit disappointing.

“USC compliance tried to vet it as much as possible and do as much as they could to help me out, but I could either do only USC football camps as a USC employee, or do all of my football camps as a non-USC employee,” Lattimore said. “It was a tough decision but I wanted to be around as many kids as possible.”

Lattimore has repeatedly said he doesn’t want to be a college coach due to the time demands, but could see himself coaching high-school ball some day. In the meantime, he’ll graduate and keep doing his camps and foundation work, while always finding time for anything USC could ask of him.

“If the university needs me to do anything in a non-traditional capacity, I’m all about it,” Lattimore said. “If President (Harris) Pastides or anybody at the university needs me, I’m there.”

Lattimore is free to promote USC, advise potential recruits about the program and say anything he likes about the Gamecocks to anyone he chooses. He plans to do so and keep working in the recreation field.

“I don’t want to coach, not just yet. I want to coach high school later on,” Lattimore said. “But something in the recreational community, something in the public health well is what I want to do right now.”

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LATTIMORE STATEMENT

“To clarify the situation concerning the NCAA, I will not be working for USC athletics. I have a non-profit (The Marcus Lattimore Foundation) that caters directly to student-athletes. I have a business (football camps) that focuses on the sports performance element of athletes with plans of opening a facility in the upstate. I also work with a few companies that directly help our youth in this great state. I was not aware of the compliance issues that would arise with me taking a position in athletics. I was honored when coach Muschamp offered me a position and I will always be around when the guys in that locker room need me. Although I would love to be a part of the new era of Gamecock football, I have to honor my commitment to our youth. The NCAA ruling is fair and I will fully comply. Thanks to everyone for your continued support. God bless!”

This story was originally published April 18, 2016 at 6:01 PM with the headline "Marcus Lattimore: ‘I will fully comply’ on NCAA ruling."