Nation’s top back Marcus Lattimore to visit Georgia
Georgia got the fifth and final official visit from Marcus Lattimore, the No. 1 running back prospect in the country, according to Scout.com.
Lattimore told Scout’s Chad Simmons that he definitely intends to make an official visit to Athens on Jan. 29 (subscription required), the last weekend before national signing day on Feb. 3. He made an unofficial visit to UGA on Sept. 12.
“Georgia mainly got the last visit because I like the coaches down there,” Lattimore told Simmons on Thursday. “I especially like Coach [Mark] Richt and how he treats his players down there. I never really got a chance to hang out with any of the players when I visited there before, so I am going to do that and just check out the campus this time.”
A number of schools had been battling to get the final official visit from Lattimore, who has already had paid trips to Auburn (Oct. 31) and Penn State (Nov. 7). He currently has official visits scheduled for Oregon on Jan. 15 and North Carolina on Jan. 22. South Carolina has long been considered the favorite for the Lattimore, who stars for Byrnes High in Duncan, S.C., but he does not feel the need to take an official there since he has been to the campus so often the last two years.
Lattimore is the rated the No. 1 back in America by Scout.com, No. 2 by Rivals and No. 3 by ESPNU. He started with more than 50 scholarship offers.
Most recently Lattimore gave Penn State rave reviews after his visit this past weekend.
“Ah man, it was a ‘10,’” he told BlueWhiteIllustrated.com. “I could see myself up there, really. It reminded me a lot of Byrnes, the school I’m at now. Just the way they do things. They really don’t care who scores, it’s all about team. They always put academics first, like I do here. Coach [Joe Paterno] is real cool, it’s just a great place.”
Lattimore said he will announce his decision on National Signing Day.
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103 comments Add your comment
UGA/Laylo
November 12th, 2009
1:40 pm
It seems that Georgia is going to have the last push at Michael Lattimore. He can be a great back if he goes to Tailback U!!!!
Kim Z's Package
November 12th, 2009
1:41 pm
Just how many #1 back are in the country this year? 10-15 or so I am guessing. Well UGA dosen’t have any good back right now so he get to play early for sure.
DawgRun
November 12th, 2009
1:43 pm
Would be nice to seal another Top Back. They need to sell all the great backs that have been there before.
Clint
November 12th, 2009
1:54 pm
Not one mention of Lane Kiffin? Are you feeling ok Chip?
Bon
November 12th, 2009
1:58 pm
I would not get to excited about a running back from Byrnes,SC. Does not see near the competition up there.
Oledawg
November 12th, 2009
2:00 pm
Would you mind changing the picture you have with College Recruiting? It looks like 3 lines of cocaine is being offered to recruits.
Chip Towers
November 12th, 2009
2:02 pm
Kim Z’s package: There are actually three No. 1 backs (that I know of). Michael Dyer (Auburn commit) of Little Rock, Ark., Lache Seastrunk of Temple, Texas, and Lattimore all get at least one No. 1 ranking from Scout, Rivals or ESPNU. Suffice it to say, they’re all good! . . .
Clint: Regarding Kiffin, I haven’t gotten around to it yet but I’ll just say that the UT coaches took some chances on kids with character issues the last year or so. That can blow up in your face sometimes.
Chip Towers
November 12th, 2009
2:03 pm
Ole Dawg: You’re not the first to have mentioned that!
Bon: Byrnes goes to Georgia and Florida to find competition and represents itself well.
collegeballfan
November 12th, 2009
2:15 pm
The kid was on TV few weeks ago. He can play.
Whoever gets him gets a good RB.
Bob R.
November 12th, 2009
2:15 pm
Bon, I normally let comments like yours go, but I feel the urge to speak now. You sir, are an idiot. Do some research, South Carolina is second only to Louisiana in terms of players in the NFL per capita (look it up) wit the vast majority coming from the upstate of SC, where Lattimore plays. And I can tell you I played in Lattimore’s conference, and I have seen HS football in Georgia, Texas, and Florida, and none of those places compare to the upstate of South Carolina. The “so called” best team in the country, St. Thomas Aquinas was dominated by Byrnes for four quarters despite a loss due to turnovers. So again, do your research before speaking.
North Georgia Dawg
November 12th, 2009
2:20 pm
I saw him play St. Thomas Aquinas. He fumbled 3 times in a big game. He runs with authority and has the ability but I question the turnovers….
Hey Dogtards
November 12th, 2009
2:23 pm
I don’t think you can hold the title of tailback U when you don’t have a run game. This seems like it is almost a throw away. His official visit i) is not during the season and ii) will probably come after he’s already made up his mind NOT to go to uga. It also sounds like PSU has him in the bag.
SC Fan
November 12th, 2009
2:25 pm
I don’t see why we have to go out of state to find Backs if you look at rivals Ga has 5 4 star backs and 3 are in the top 250 and all of them are in the top 25 in there position in the country.Lets keep our boys home and stop letting them leave to make someone else a powerhouse.
GeoffDawg
November 12th, 2009
2:31 pm
Don’t worry – no one wants to take tech’s title of b-back U.
Kim Z's Package
November 12th, 2009
2:31 pm
What about mack brown or mack strong are they not #1’s too?
MattDawg
November 12th, 2009
2:33 pm
Bon obviously knows nothing about Byrnes High School. I am from that area and it is the best high school in the state of South Carolina for football. Guys transfer all the time to play there and they are always ranked in the top ten nationally.
AthenSG
November 12th, 2009
2:35 pm
Bob R., tell Bon what you really think of him…….go ahead and let it out……HAHA
YoungDawg
November 12th, 2009
2:38 pm
UGA gets the last shot at Lattimore just before signing day! Looks like he may continue the tradition of the top SC kids coming to UGA!
Hey Dogtards
November 12th, 2009
2:43 pm
lol @ b-back u
godawgs
November 12th, 2009
2:54 pm
Players love playing for Richt–he doesn’t berate them like the other guys.
Can’t beat Richt’s character either–untouchable in that area–no competition.
Lots of Georgia players go onto the NFL, one of the best in the country there.
You know you’ll win games with Richt–he’s one of the most winning coaches in the US.
Cool to play in front of 92,000+
We really need a dominant guy that can run the ball. When Richt gets a 100 yard rusher, we are 38-3 in those games.
Come on Lattimore–help Richt get a Championship and win the Heisman.
Thanks for giving Ga the last visit.
sc falcon
November 12th, 2009
2:58 pm
Bon,
Lattimore has played against Gwinnett schools each of the last 2 years. Ask the coaches at those schools how good he is? I think that Byrnes scored a lot of points in each game. I am from GA, but have lived in the upstate of SC since ‘95 and Byrnes is the top high school football program that I have seen. It is not even close, so do your homework before you say anything.
PMC
November 12th, 2009
3:00 pm
All I can say is having seen him play a few times who ever gets him is getting an outstanding back.
He fumbles a bit much kind of like Darren Mcfadden but feed him the ball enough and he’ll pick it up for you.
Mustang
November 12th, 2009
3:10 pm
looks like CMR’s way of doing things and treating people keeps recruits coming.
WTF
November 12th, 2009
3:19 pm
I think I remember another player who came from a small school in middle Georgia and didn’t face stiff competition. Many predicted he would have trouble adjusting to big time football. Believe is name was Walker or something like that and it took till the second half of his first college game for him to show the big boys (aka Bill Bates) they play good ball in small towns.
HungryDawg
November 12th, 2009
3:22 pm
Chip,
This kid has character issues? Do you have any specifics for us?
Voice of Reason
November 12th, 2009
3:22 pm
Bon is just typical of those who want to act like they know what they are talking about, when all the time they are jealous idiots. Some can really embarass themselves on these blogs. Bet if they used their right name, they would be a little more cautious.
Confucious says BCS
November 12th, 2009
3:24 pm
This banter between North GA Dawg, Bob and Bon has me thinking that the only way to tell which region of the country plays the best high school ball is to have a series of post season exibition games in which inter regional matchups are determined by a poll of high school beat writers, a poll of the U.S. House of Representatives and a computer ranking system based on evaluations by Rivals, Scouts and ESPNU…oh and lets not forget to factor in fan base…We can call it the HSBS – that stands for High School …..
Bon
November 12th, 2009
3:25 pm
I would take a 4-star running back out of Georgia or Florida everytime over a 5-star running back out of South Carolina. Huge difference in competition.
cj
November 12th, 2009
3:26 pm
All you haters don’t be mad!!! Glad he is giving the Dawgs another look. It will be worth your time big man! The best fan base in the country!! Haaaattteeerrrss chime in now please. bahahahahahah
layinlow
November 12th, 2009
3:29 pm
He wasn’t talking about Lattimore having character issues. He was refering to the recent armed robbery by three of lane kiffins recruits from last season.
Bon
November 12th, 2009
3:31 pm
Byrnes not producing all-conference type players at all, I am sure it is a good system but I think there most sucessful player lately has been Prince Miller of UGA
redeployed dawg
November 12th, 2009
3:37 pm
I would really love for UGA to grab this kid, but I don’t see it happening. He was not too impressed after his unofficial visit earlier in the year. Our line doesn’t look as dominant as we hoped and the coaching staff is in a bit of turmoil right now (despite what they are saying). The one benefit is the opportunity to earn early playing time, but I just don’t see us being able to sway him.
richard cranium
November 12th, 2009
3:37 pm
I thought GT was “tailback U” ….
Confucious says BCS
November 12th, 2009
3:47 pm
Dick Cranium, now everybody knows your dumb.
TXDawg
November 12th, 2009
3:48 pm
Reading is fundamental…lol.
I think the comment refers to the fact that Byrnes doesn’t play a high level of competition on a regular basis in South Carolina. There’s no knock against the Byrnes program. Even playing one or two games out of state doesn’t qualify as playing a high level of competition. But he would have looked a little better against Aquinas if he was holding onto the ball a little better. And to the idiot who stated SC plays equal or better ball than GA, FL, and TX….please wake up. Outside of Byrnes, SC has no claim to posting top teams nationally like FL, GA (where I played), and definitely not like TX. I’ll be happy to compare numbers any time. And don’t give me that per capita garbage. Let me condense GA, FL, & TX all down to the same size and population of SC and pool the best players from each state and then come at me about whose athletes are the best.
GeoffDawg
November 12th, 2009
3:49 pm
My mistake – tech would be b-back I.
Bon
November 12th, 2009
3:52 pm
Thanks TXDawg
In the history of the NFL there have 5 players from Spartanburg County
Bon
November 12th, 2009
3:54 pm
Thanks TXDawg
Tech is Smarter
November 12th, 2009
3:55 pm
I’m a tech fan and I love feeling superior when I make whitty jokes about them puppy dogs in Athens. I also love my calculator and my online gaming ablilites. Here at GT we roll in style and get bling every time we win a non-conference regular season game … holla back north ave.
Bon
November 12th, 2009
3:57 pm
Spatanburg has 5 players all time to have played in the NFL. Last ones i think were R. Sims, S.Smith. I think that is Dorman and Spartanburg respectfully
Dabo Dawg
November 12th, 2009
4:00 pm
Latimore is overrated and fumbles too much when he faces real competition.He will be a bust just like Prince Miller who also was a Byrnes Highschool product.No real competition in upstate SC football.. Dont waste your time Georgia!
just for conversation
November 12th, 2009
4:06 pm
These totals are based on the 1,693-man 2008 NFL Kickoff Weekend rosters (September 4, 7-8).
California 214, Florida 185, Texas 170, Ohio 90, Georgia 83, Louisiana 73, Virginia 61, Michigan 57, South Carolina 51, Alabama 48, Pennsylvania 47, North Carolina 41, Mississippi 39, Illinois 38
Just for the record SC does pull a 51 with a population of 4 million, to GA’s 9.5 million, FL 18 million, TX 20 million and CA’s 37 million
Lame Kitten
November 12th, 2009
4:09 pm
Marcus, come to UT. I promise you a black hoodie and a brand new Prius to drive around campus!!
TXDawg
November 12th, 2009
4:24 pm
No problem Bon…..people are so quick to reply to what they think they read and jump all over folks to establish some kind of superiority of knowledge, as opposed to taking time to read what is actually written.
It’s a blog people…..lighten up!
dawgs = last in sec in rushing = no shot at lattimore
November 12th, 2009
4:33 pm
Tailback U is Auburn. Faded UGA fan. I don’t even like Auburn.
SuperB
November 12th, 2009
4:37 pm
With all due respect to KimZ, Washaun Ealey is a great back in the wings. Of course, Marcus should go to the modern-day Tailback U. Go Dawgs!
GeoffDawg
November 12th, 2009
4:41 pm
I think you mean jaded. Unless you’ve been to Sammy Sosa’s beautician lately.
TXDawg
November 12th, 2009
4:55 pm
Nice one GeoffDawg….lol
lefty fielder
November 12th, 2009
4:57 pm
geoffdawg gets the award for the zinger of the day
Suwanee Dawgs
November 12th, 2009
5:06 pm
Lattimore played against North Gwinnett HS (Suwanee) in 2008 and Central Gwinnett HS (Lawrenceville) this year. Both games were played at Tom Robinson Stadium at NGHS as part of the Progressive Challenge. His team is loaded with talent and this kid is the real deal. Byrnes has a DE that was headed to FSU but is not going to UT and their QB is committed to Rutgers.
freshman Tight end
November 12th, 2009
5:20 pm
man Paul Johnson needs to have swimming breaks and get out of jail free cards to get these BACKS HUH?
obomaisaclown
November 12th, 2009
5:22 pm
Word is it’s down to SC. VS Auburn for this kid. wouldn’t be suprise if he ends up at Auburn
Spurrier
November 12th, 2009
6:05 pm
Cock lock. Just playing everyone.
jerry
November 12th, 2009
6:19 pm
Who doesn’t take chances with character issues?
SECfan
November 12th, 2009
6:53 pm
Enter your comments here
SECfan
November 12th, 2009
6:59 pm
He would be a great pickup for UGA but I do not think they will get him. If they did, it would be best to move Samuel to linebacker to free up a spot. Plus, I see Ealey taking over next year as the number one back so if he came that would be a nice one, two punch.
Bernie Matt
November 12th, 2009
7:01 pm
I haven’t been able to get at Lattimore directly, but my contacts in SC have given me assurances he’s not coming to UGA. Go play for a winner son! You know what they say about nice guys, and Mark Richt is definitely a nice guy!
Alfred Neuman IV,Summa Cum Laude,UGA'90
November 12th, 2009
7:08 pm
Tailback U? You mean like “get your tail back on that bench, you”. ga is the Bermuda Triangle for RBs. Tech is where RBs are developed.
It's Really Lame Kiffin
November 12th, 2009
7:38 pm
NuKeese…thanks for changing your mind and going to Tennessee. I hear the Tennessee prison system is more luxurious than the prison system in Florida. Signed, Urban Meyer.
It's Really Dumb
November 12th, 2009
7:41 pm
If you had just asked me, NuKeese, I would have given you some more money. Just like I did to get to to come to Tennessee instead of Florida. Signed, Lame Kiffin.
It's Really Sad
November 12th, 2009
7:43 pm
Hey, NuKeese, you have to be relatively intellignet to get enrolled at Florida. Now, we know why you went to Tennessee instead of Florida. You are really stupid!
It's Really Lame Duck
November 12th, 2009
7:46 pm
Hey, NuKeese. Goode luc up thar in rocky Tope Federralal Penetenechury.
Dawg'em out!
November 12th, 2009
8:36 pm
APB:
wildboys on the loose in knoxville!
Bob R.
November 12th, 2009
8:43 pm
Bob your really are a republican, you have an adverse relationship with the truth. Just off the top of my head, without doing any research I can name more than five. Jerry Richardson (colts), now owner of the panthers, Stephen Davis, a teammate of mine, Anthony Simmons, Ryan Sims, S. Smith, Gabe Wilkins (49ers and packers), Steve Fuller (Bears) Ralph Coleman, (Cowboys). And I am sure there are many more, and that is just one county, keep in mind, our region once comprised Spartanburg, York, Union and Cherokee counties, now it includes Greenville. Try doing some research brother, because we play better football than Georgia.
happy days are here again
November 12th, 2009
8:47 pm
wow take a look at this! uga bama fl you will love it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8GuH9oDHrU
BG
November 12th, 2009
8:58 pm
Marcus come to tailback U and you will be a 1st round pick in a few years.
Kim Z's Package
November 12th, 2009
8:59 pm
SUPERB: all the great UGA backs are in the wings! Samuel, King, and now Ealey. UGA can’t pass so why does it matter if Ealey can’t pass block? If he can run then run the ball.
Kim Z's Package
November 12th, 2009
9:03 pm
I guess Kiffin now has 3 more scholarships for next years team. Sad but I am sure he will get more than a few takers.
Reality Check
November 12th, 2009
9:26 pm
Hungrydawg – Chip was not talking about Lattimore having issues. He was talking about what happened at UT. Not sure how you confused that one.
AZDAWG5
November 12th, 2009
9:43 pm
Man check this cat out on Youtube….OK dont shoot me on this comment….but this guy runs and reminds me of a young OJ Simpson…seriously, his stride, posture and moves look very much like the juice….
Not Disappointed
November 12th, 2009
9:51 pm
Good luck young man. Make sure you get your education. ramblin Wreck
Jeff
November 12th, 2009
9:51 pm
A top recruit wants to choose a winning program…right now that is not Georgia…
Heels 4 Real
November 12th, 2009
10:07 pm
Watch out for the Heels on this one!
Bill in Sandy Springs
November 12th, 2009
10:12 pm
If Georgia’s running game is so shot, why wouldn’t he choose Georgia? Its not like he is going to have to wait to play.
War Eagle09
November 12th, 2009
10:13 pm
Latt. is AU Bound.. Dyer is openly recruiting Lattimore as we speak..
Failgate U
November 12th, 2009
10:20 pm
UGA…. where talent goes to die. Top 10 recruiting class. Top 100 ranking.
GT-EE-'93
November 12th, 2009
10:20 pm
Chip,
You’ve always been a DAWG homer. And you are SO FULL OF CRAP!
Why don’t you republish all your “UGA Lands Another Big-Time Player” article from the past 3 years?
It’s crazy that UGA coaches get paid for signing your losers— and it’s absolutely pathetic that you get paid for doing nothing more than telling lies about how good they’re going to be.
Go Jackets, Bozo!
GT-EE-93
November 12th, 2009
10:41 pm
I mean Go Bozo Jackets!
Big Dawg
November 12th, 2009
10:47 pm
Hey Gt idiot,
that has got to be the gayest video I have ever seen!!! Man, those home boys look REAL tough singing those tunes…and those cheerleaders? Are you proud of that video?? Freakin’ jalopy?? That’s a joke right? What are you gonna do next year when your team flops to 3-8?
Big Dawg
November 12th, 2009
10:49 pm
I would say the SWDekalb kid is a better RB than Lattimore.
GO TO UGA IF
November 12th, 2009
11:08 pm
You want to be under-coached and over-hyped. Or go to a real school that will help you develop your talent and sportsmanship.
UGA talent development =
November 12th, 2009
11:09 pm
EPIC FAIL
Courtney
November 12th, 2009
11:53 pm
Did some bozo on here actually just question the talent coming out of South Carolina? ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!??!? Ever hear of A.J. Green??? Dumba$$..
Desert Dawg
November 13th, 2009
12:15 am
Spartanburg also produced Stephen Davis (Spartanburg High). As a former Upstate resident and graduate of Dorman High (the only school that comes close to being a rival to Byrnes in the Region) I can speak to quality of their program. I’ve watched them dominate the state for the last 6 or 7 years. They travel out of state to play nationaly ranked teams and as Chip said they play them very well. The quality of football and passion of the fans in the upstate of SC every bit as good as the football in GA. The Dorman/Byrnes and Dorman/Spartanburg High games draw 15,000 fans easy and that’s only because they can’t hold any more. I can assure all Dawg fans that Marcus Latimore is a tested back and I would love to see him at UGA. This is great news for the program.
Desert Dawg
November 13th, 2009
12:18 am
I forgot about Gabe Wilkins and Anthony Simmons.
Paddy
November 13th, 2009
12:44 am
This kid plays against tough compition and does really well. Would love to see him as a Dawg.
chemdawg
November 13th, 2009
1:17 am
North Gwinnett straight out of the AAAAA GA championship game played Lattimore’s team last year in the season opener. Lattimore owned that game. He can play with real competition.
chemdawg
November 13th, 2009
1:23 am
http://www.goupstate.com/article/20080829/NEWS/808300294?Title=No-1-Byrnes-stops-North-Gwinnett-36-21
mike
November 13th, 2009
3:28 am
IF U ARE A RUNNING BACK WHY WOULDNT YOU GO 2 GEORGIA TECH AND GET ALOT MORE YARDS IN THE SYSTEM.. JONATHON DWYER RODDY JONES ANOTHONY ALLEN!
Dabo Dawg
November 13th, 2009
5:33 am
Another Byrnes product that was hailed as a Great QB but went bust at Clemson is Willie Korn. That guy throws a lot of interceptions when pressured. Kyle Parker is the real deal for a freshman amd makes UGA’s red headed Joe Cox look like a Bozo.
Spike
November 13th, 2009
6:50 am
No interest in Tech, huh? Imagine that.
gator dawgpounder
November 13th, 2009
7:34 am
Yet another great player who is about his own stats and cares nothing about winning Natl Championships.
gator dawgpounder
November 13th, 2009
7:41 am
Desert Dawg, and oh yeah I forgot to mention, he had several fumbles when he played against a FLORIDA team, St. Thomas Aquinas and got beat. I guess that was a college prep game for him and then when the camera’s showed him on the sideline he sat there and sulked like a baby.
Lattimore Plans To Visit Georgia | MrSEC.com
November 13th, 2009
7:55 am
[...] High School in Duncan, S.C., has decided to take an official visit to Georgia.Lattimore will take his final visit to Georgia on Jan. 29, according to Chad Simmons of Scout.com.“Georgia mainly got the last visit because I like the [...]
BigDawg
November 13th, 2009
7:56 am
Yeah…let’s waste another to talent. Hmmm…have NFL talent (3 in the first round) and finish with losses to every quality team we play. Or have the NFL talent on this years team and have them play like high school kids. Hey, Lattimore please please please come to Athens. At least while losing we would have talent to ooohhh and aaaahhhhh at.
I bet we could win 8 – 10 wins with him and finish third in the SEC east behind the hated Gators and UT.
Larry
November 13th, 2009
8:26 am
LOL. Just how many dumb RB prospects have to keep filtering through Georgia before they realize that’s a graveyard for “elite” running backs? How many 5 star RB’s are on that roster now that wouldn’t even be starting for Georgia Tech? LOL. I guess there are just more dumb kids out there then first though. LOL
BULLSEYE
November 13th, 2009
9:31 am
Taiback U?! Georgia is not even TBU in it’s own conference. That would belong to Auburn. Miami Hurricanes = TBU.
Jake
November 13th, 2009
3:49 pm
No Lane will not get him. But he did get two DE’s from this HS.
grandpapeckinpah
November 14th, 2009
4:03 pm
Georgia is tailback U.
NFL Pipeline--UGA
November 15th, 2009
12:18 am
If guys want to go pro, UGA is the place to play–Richt sends more players to the Pros than anybody. Marcus, welcome aboard man, did you watch that Auburn game—that’s the power of what good backs can do at Ga–did you see King and ealey–could be you next year–can you see it man putting on the Red & Black?