Marcus Lattimore: ‘I’m a better person because I know’ Jake Bentley
Jake Bentley mentioned two people by name during his announcement Monday that he was going to leave South Carolina: One was head coach Will Muschamp. The other? Marcus Lattimore.
“Thank you for always being there for me,” Bentley wrote in his social media post about Lattimore. “You have done so much for me and the talks we have together.”
Lattimore, the legendary Gamecocks running back, has known Bentley about as well as anybody over the years. Lattimore played for Bentley’s dad, Bobby, at Byrnes High School and remembers Jake as a youngster on the sidelines at Rebels games.
The two remained friends over the years and continued their relationship at USC with Jake as the Gamecocks’ starting quarterback and Lattimore as USC’s director of player development.
“The memories I have of him and to see him mature to the man he is today and how he handles so much criticism, so much unwarranted criticism. I’m a better person because I know him,” Lattimore said Monday while speaking at a luncheon for this weekend’s S.C. High School Football League state championship games.
Bentley’s USC career was filled with ups and downs. He skipped his senior season of high school to enroll a year early at South Carolina and was a starter all four years. His senior season was cut short after suffering a season-ending Lisfranc foot injury in the opener against North Carolina.
Bentley leaves the Gamecocks as the program’s No. 4 player in yards (7,527) and touchdowns (55). It is uncertain where Bentley will play next season, but he indicated Monday he would finish his collegiate eligibility elsewhere as a graduate transfer. Bright things are ahead for Bentley because of his character, Lattimore said, whether that’s on the football field or away from it.
“He will be able to do whatever he wants to do in life. I know that is a cliche thing to say, but he gets it,” Lattimore said. “His perspective on life and how he sees things, how he blocks out noise. His ability to be a leader. Just a special human being. Obviously we know he can throw the football. If he coaches, there will be kids forever changed because of him. If he goes to the NFL, he will make a difference, wherever he decides to go. I’m excited to see him play. That’s my little brother.”
