Byrnes running back Marcus Lattimore stood front and center in his Spartanburg church Tuesday evening and made a much-anticipated announcement: He's going to play football for South Carolina.Rated the nation's top running back prospect by the two biggest recruiting sites, he announced his choice during a program at Silver Hill United Methodist Church, a day before National Signing Day.
Lattimore kept fans in suspense until the last minute.
He invited former Auburn tailback and Columbia resident Stephen Davis to the front of the church. Davis, who also grew up in Spartanburg, gave Lattimore an Auburn hat, prompting some shouts of "Auburn" from some in the crowd of of 300 or so. But then Lattimore pulled a Gamecock hat out from under the Auburn cap and put the garnet hat on.
Lattimore said that USC was the best fit for him.
"That's here my heart is," Lattimore said. "And (Steve Spurrier) did the Cha-Cha Slide with my mama."
Lattimore said Davis advised him to "go with my heart." Lattimore said he would wear his same high school jersey, number 21, for the Gamecocks, and believes he could have a chance to play immediately if he works hard.
Lattimore said he finalized his decision Saturday after Spurrier's in-home visit, during which Spurrier danced with Lattimore's mother Yolanda Smith.
Lattimore said he was relieved to have the decision behind him.
"I feel like I just lost 50 pounds."
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