He’s the best running back you never saw, and you never will.

Marcus Lattimore retired Wednesday after two non-seasons with the San Francisco 49ers. He never got in a game, never carried the ball, never recovered fully from the two knee injuries he suffered while playing at the University of South Carolina.

Lattimore seemed to realize last weekend he would never again be the powerful runner often likened to Earl Campbell and Adrian Peterson. The 49ers announced his departure in a news release that only spoke to Lattimore’s class.

“After prayer and careful consideration, I have decided it’s time to end my professional football career,” Lattimore, 23, said. “I have given my heart and soul to the game that I love, and it’s time for me to move on to the next chapter of my life and help others. I have given every ounce of my energy toward making a full recovery from my knee injury, and I have made a lot of progress. Unfortunately, getting my knee fully back to the level the NFL demands has proven to be insurmountable.”

He rushed for 2,677 yards as a collegian, ran for 38 touchdowns, and caught 74 passes, three for scores. He was an absolute monster as a freshman, when he piled up 1,197 yards on the ground.

Despite the injuries and knowing he’d not be able to play in 2013, the 49ers still used a fourth-round draft pick on him and thought he was a bargain. He just could not get back the power and explosion he had before tearing knee ligaments in 2012, which was a repeat – only worse – of his 2011 injury. He was paid for both seasons with the 49ers and also has an insurance policy that he may be able to collect on.

What now? He said he plans to re-enroll at South Carolina to get his degree and he’ll work with the foundation he established to help kids in South Carolina.

You’ll never see him play. You missed a real treat if you did not see him in his college days. But his life’s real work lies ahead and he seems prepared to achieve at a high level in a different field and not on one.

Today’s Question

Which athletes do you hold in high esteem for their work away from the games they play?

Answers in the comment box, please.
 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman .