ESPNU 150 running back Marcus Lattimore from Duncan (S.C.) Byrnes visited Penn State for the first time a week ago. It was a visit Lattimore had been looking forward to and he was not disappointed.
“I had a good time,” Lattimore said. “I finally got to meet all the coaches. I saw the facilities and met some players. But the academics stood out the most. If you get a degree from Penn State it means a lot. I talked to a couple academic leaders. They were real passionate about the academics there.”
Of course, Joe Paterno was on hand while Lattimore was in State College and spent time with the star back.
“That was the first time I’ve met him,” Lattimore said. “It was great. I couldn’t believe I was sitting in front of him. He’s a legend. He’s real funny. He told us a lot of stories. He is real straight forward.”
Lattimore has narrowed his list of approximately 30 scholarship offers down to five schools: Penn State, Oregon, South Carolina, Auburn and North Carolina.
“I have two official visits,” Lattimore said. “I have Penn State Oct. 10 and Oregon Oct. 31. I’ll visit the other three after the season.”
The 6-foot and 215-pound Lattimore rushed for 2,320 yards during his junior season. He averaged 7.6 yards per carry and scored 30 touchdowns. In the ESPNU 150 released Wednesday, Lattimore was ranked the 10th overall prospect in the class and the second-ranked running back. He and Michael Dyer (Little Rock, Ark.) were the only two running backs to receive “5 stars” in the newly added rating system.
Lattimore visited Penn State with two of his Byrnes High teammates, wide receiver prospect Nick Jones and linebacker Creighton Frost. Neither has an offer from the Nittany Lions to this point, though Jones feels he will eventually get one.
If Jones gets an offer from Penn State, it will definitely aid the Nittany Lions’ chances of landing Lattimore.
“I would like to go to the same school as Nick,” Lattimore said. “We would really like to go to the same school. That would weigh a lot on my decision. But we have to do what is best for both of us.”
The only school Jones currently has an offer from among Lattimore’s final five is South Carolina.
“I’m going to announce my decision the day before signing day,” Lattimore said. “I’ll see what other offers Nick gets and what he does.”
Kurelic’s Comment: Right now, Penn State and Oregon seem to have the edge for Lattimore’s services. However, South Carolina cannot be counted out, especially if Jones doesn’t eventually receive a scholarship offer from Penn State.
Lattimore lays it out
