South Carolina Gamecocks’ Marcus Lattimore will be replaced by Kenny Miles
Starting South Carolina Gamecocks running back Marcus Lattimore will be replaced by Kenny Miles when the club takes on Vanderbilt on Saturday 23 October.
Lattimore was forced out of his team’s game against the Kentucky Wildcats on 16 October after suffering a sprained ankle early in the second half.
When Lattimore left the game, the Gamecocks held a comfortable 28-10 lead. However, after he left the Wildcats were able to take over and ended up winning the game on a last second touchdown throw to wide receiver Randall Cobb.
Miles was the club’s starter last season, but was replaced by Lattimore this year and has only rushed the ball in two games so far in 2010. Nevertheless, Gamecocks head coach Steve Spurrier has a great deal of confidence in the sophomore.
“Kenny’s a very good back who just hasn’t had the opportunity to play much this year,” said the head coach. “So he’s going to start the game and hopefully go a long way. If Marcus has a miraculous recovery and says he feels fine, we’ll see about getting
him in there.”
The Gamecocks' offence is likely to suffer as they rely a great deal on the excellent play of Lattimore, who has managed 538 yards this season, along with 10 touchdowns. The freshman’s strong play is the reason the club sits 40th in the country
in rushing with an average of 245 yards per game.
In addition to the injury to Lattimore, it is not clear whether or not wide receiver Alshon Jeffery will be able to play against Vanderbilt, after the youngster was kept out of practice on Tuesday with a pulled muscle in his stomach. Jeffery is a key cog
in the Gamecocks' offence, as he is leading the country with 40 receptions this season.
So far this year Miles has recorded 34 yards on nine attempts.
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