Marcus Lattimore’s season-ending knee injury suffered against Tennessee on Saturday may not have been quite as devastating as initially believed.

South Carolina issued an official release regarding the details of the injury. Here’s their statement:

University of South Carolina junior running back Marcus Lattimore suffered a significant impact to the front of his right knee during the Tennessee game on Saturday. The ensuing hyperextension of the knee resulted in injury to several ligaments. There were no fractures or additional injuries, according to team physician Dr. Jeffrey Guy. Lattimore’s surgically repaired left knee was uninjured during the play.

Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier said on Sunday that Lattimore suffered a dislocated knee, so we can add that to the list.

LBS passed along a report on Saturday night saying that Lattimore had torn all four ligaments in his knee and suffered a broken femur. South Carolina says he did not break his femur, but we do know that he suffered ligament damage and the dislocation. The extent of the damage to his ligaments has not been disclosed, so it’s still possible all four were torn.

The good news is Lattimore has begun rehabbing prior to surgery and preparing for an eventual return to football. It will be an awesome moment when he does return to the game.

Photo credit: Jeff Blake-US PRESSWIRE

South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore appeared to suffer one of the worst leg injuries we’ve ever seen, and early reports suggest the injury was every bit as bad as it looked.

Lattimore, a junior from Duncan, S.C., was injured on a second quarter carry against Tennessee on Saturday. He took a handoff out of the I-formation and gained a few yards before being wrapped by linebacker Herman Lathers. Junior defensive back Eric Gordon then dove at Lattimore’s lower half and his helmet appeared to go straight into Lattimore’s right leg (video here).

Lattimore was carted off the field and taken to the hospital by ambulance.

Bryan VanOchten shared the word circulating around the press box at the Alabama-Mississippi State game that Lattimore suffered a broken femur and tore all four of his knee ligaments — the PCL, LCL, MCL, and ACL. Payne Insider adds that he has a chipped knee cap.

The injury would have been awful for any player to suffer, but it was particularly devastating for Lattimore who has already worked so hard to come back from another knee injury.

Lattimore was hurt in South Carolina’s win at Mississippi State on Oct. 15 last season and suffered a season-ending left knee injury. He missed all of the team’s spring practices after undergoing surgery, and spoke about coming back even stronger.

“The main thing is getting stronger,” Lattimore said in April. “I feel like I’m almost there.

“I’ll never take my legs for granted again,” he said.

Lattimore worked all the way back and was enjoying another stellar season. The former SEC Freshman of the Year had rushed for 597 yards and 10 touchdowns entering Saturday’s game. He rushed for 65 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries against Tennessee before suffering the injury.

UPDATE: Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier said on Sunday that Lattimore suffered a dislocated knee, but he would not confirm anything else about the season-ending injury.

UPDATE II: The official word from South Carolina is that Lattimore suffered injuries to knee ligaments, but no fracture or additional injuries.

Photo credit: Jeff Blake-US PRESSWIRE