As the news broke, football enthusiasts took to social media to express their views on Rattler’s decision. Many pointed out the overlooked fact that Caleb Williams, currently making headlines for his prowess at USC, once played second fiddle to Rattler. Some are quick to commend Rattler’s skills, emphasizing that in the right system, he has the potential to thrive as a quarterback.

Reflecting on Rattler’s journey, there’s a consensus that he was once hailed as the next big prospect before yielding his position to Caleb Williams. A sentiment echoed by some is that Rattler’s decision to enter the NFL Draft is met with mixed feelings. Some argue that another year at South Carolina could further refine his skills and solidify his standing in the draft.

While opinions diverge on the timing of Rattler’s leap to the professional stage, many acknowledge his inherent potential as a quarterback. Contrary to doubts about his draft prospects, there’s a prevailing belief that Rattler’s skill set and past achievements position him as a viable candidate for selection in the upcoming NFL Draft.

The debate surrounding Spencer Rattler’s declaration underscores the nuanced perspectives within the football community. As the quarterback embarks on this new chapter, eyes will be keenly watching to see how Rattler’s journey unfolds in the lead-up to the 2024 NFL Draft.

One of the things that sets Smith apart is his football IQ and instincts. He reads plays well and knows how to position himself to make a play on the ball. He also has good awareness and recognition skills, allowing him to diagnose plays quickly and make the right decisions.

However, there are some areas where Smith can improve. He could work on his footwork and technique, especially in man coverage. He can also sometimes be too aggressive in coverage, leading to penalties or giving up big plays.

Overall, Smith has the potential to be a solid cornerback at the next level with his physicality, instincts, and football IQ. He compares to NFL cornerback Stephon Gilmore in terms of his physicality and ball skills.

Steve Spurrier, the ol’ ball coach, made a statement that just irked me regarding Marcus Lattimore’s injury. He said, and I quote “we may be getting Marcus Lattimore back” in regards to Lattimore’s playing prospects.

What? What? WHAAAAAAAAAAT?

If I am Marcus Lattimore the next thing Steve Spurrier, or anyone at the University of South Carolina will see is the back of my head as I am leaving school.

This has to be Lattimore’s final season playing collegiate football. He’s already torn ligaments in BOTH knees. What good will red-shirting him to comeback in 2014 do for Marcus? He’s given this team both knees, and probably the peak athletic years of his life for free.

Spurrier is basically saying, “when ya get well, COME ON BACK AND GET HIT IN THE KNEES FOR FREE SOME MORE!”

You have got to be kidding me.

Marcus has to look at the careers of Willis McGahee and Frank Gore as inspiration to hire a great agent (YA BOY is available Marcus) and get himself drafted. Remember Willis McGahee couldn’t compete in the combine and instead chose to do a private workout consisting mainly of squats to show NFL teams he was on the road to recovery. That private workout got Willis drafted in the first round by the Buffalo Bills. You don’t think that now, especially with the cap friendly CBA in place, that some team wouldn’t grab Marcus Lattimore with an early second round pick?

If I were a betting man I’d bet anything that even injured Lattimore goes no later than the third round. Bad knee and all.

All in all, the idea of him playing more football for free is just silly. Get healthy, get yourself drafted, and earn what you can while you can.

Early rumors were that Lattimore broke his patella, femur, and tore all of the knee ligaments. However an update to the situation shows that Lattimore did not suffer any damage to his knee cap:

Dr. Jeffrey Guy updated to some degree Lattimore’s situation, with some good news sprinkled in with the bad.

In the release, Guy confirmed that a “hyperextension of the knee resulted in injury to several ligaments.” What ligaments were involved and the extent of the injuries to the ligaments — full or partial tears — were not disclosed.

That’s the bad. The good? The release went on to state that “[t]here were no fractures or additional injuries.”

Lattimore was the #1 ranked running back in the 2013 draft class but that will change now of course. Modern medicine is working wonders but you have to think it is going to take at least two years before we see anything close to the usual Marcus back on a football field.

Im rooting for him. Get well soon 21.

Video below:

Respect to the entire Tennessee Volunteer team who came on the field to support Lattimore as well.

Though Marcus Lattimore did not appear to be injured at Death Valley he has sprang up on the report this week with a hip. Coach Spurrier has said he is not sure if the back will play this weekend at Florida:

“Marcus Lattimore did not practice again today,” Spurrier said. “I don’t know how to list him. I’m not sure if he’s even going to be able to play. (Jadeveon) Clowney is limited – his foot is bothering him. And of course the defensive tackles, (Kelcy) Quarles, (JT) Surratt and (Byron) Jerideau; Quarles probably won’t play. JT and Jerideau are limited, so we’ve got the freshmen guys, Phillip Dukes and Gerald Dixon (Jr.), ready to go. So we’re sort of banged up a little bit all of a sudden.”

Now… he is certainly feeling the effects of such pounding:

“It’s just painful for him,” Steve Spurrier said Sunday. “And he has trouble lifting his arm right now so it’s pretty hard to play quarterback.”

ESPN

I doubt USC is going to the National Championship, but hey I do have a vested interest in seeing Shaw sit out that ECU game. Go ahead and heal up playa… my Pirates need any break they can get.

Once believed to be around 240, Jeffrey shedded a ton of weight and came in the combine at a slim and trim 215 pounds. He was one of the biggest winners of the combine in many people’s eyes.

At that time I wrote:

Alshon Jeffrey will show up in shape (225 lbs or below) and run a respectable 4.50 or better 40 time

And after the combine numbers came Mel Kiper wrote:

Jeffery weighed in at 216 pounds which surprised me. Thought he would be at 225-230. His Pro Day will be huge. 2nd rder right now

Seems to me that Alshon has a new dedication to the game, according to reports that have come from his Pro Day. Here is what went down:

Jeffery participated in the Gamecocks’ Pro Day on Wednesday, however, and may have helped his draft stock. Scouts on hand timed his forty-yard dash in the high-4.4 to low-4.5 range, according to Kevin Weidl of ESPN Scouts Inc. SI.com’s Tony Pauline had Jeffery at 4.55 on his first run. Jeffery also weighed in at 213, down three pounds from his Combine weigh-in.

Source: PFT

Good for Alshon. Hopefully he’s worked himself into the top 15 once again.

Now with that said, Mel is still considered a NFL Draft expert so his opinion does hold a lot of weight in some circles. On twitter a fan asked Mel about South Carolina WR Alshon Jeffrey and this is what Mel responded:

Jeffery weighed in at 216 pounds which surprised me. Thought he would be at 225-230. His Pro Day will be huge. 2nd rder right now

I’ve heard that Alshon was moving into the top 10, I’ve heard that he’s fallen out of round one. So many confusing reports with this guy. The fact that he came into the combine at 215 made things even more complicated. Is he going to stay in such great shape? What weight did he play at? How fast is this guy exactly?

So many questions with Jeffrey right now. Scouts are going to have to really do their homework on him because either you are getting a perennial Pro Bowler, or you are getting the next Mike Williams (USC).

Alshon Jeffrey will show up in shape (225 lbs or below) and run a respectable 4.50 or better 40 time

And here is the official weigh in:

USC WR Alshon Jeffery was a huge victor at the combine weigh-in coming in at 6’3″ 216. We said he could be the biggest loser or winner.

Credit: NFL Mocks (@NFLMocks)

What’s more interesting is the rumors that because of the incredible shape he’s in Alshon Jeffrey has actually leaped Justin Blackmon on some draft boards. I don’t have any super reliable sources for this, but I am reading and being told little tidbits that Blackmon may drop like a rock on draft day. Some scouts just don’t feel that Blackmon does anything great and could be a Mike Crabtree 2.0. Jeffrey has shown a dedication to the game, and we all know he can make the aerobatic catch look routine. It will be VERY interesting to see if Jeffrey starts to be reconsidered as the #1 receiver in the 2012 NFL Draft in the near future.