Marcus Lattimore’s recovery from a brutal knee injury in October is right on schedule, but if an ESPN report is correct, the running back’s next carry will occur in the National Football League.  Joe Schad is reporting that “a source close to the player” has said Lattimore will declare for the draft, possibly as soon as Wednesday.

Schad says Lattimore has the blessing of Gamecock coach Steve Spurrier.

Lattimore has already battled back from one knee injury and his current rehab could cost him all of next season.  Still, the talented workhorse back reportedly plans to meet with NFL officials at the scouting combine and then jog and catch passes for them by the end of March.

Remarkably — at least for anyone who saw Lattimore’s leg bend in the wrong direction in Carolina’s win over Tennessee last fall — Lattimore is already off crutches.

If/when he announces this decision, he’ll leave Columbia with 2,677 yards rushing and 38 touchdowns to his name.

Our tip for Lattimore: Hire Drew Rosenhaus as your agent.  Rosenhaus was the agent for ex-Miami Hurricane Willis McGahee who badly damaged his knee in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl.  Instead of falling too far down the draft board, McGahee was selected #23 overall in the first round by the Buffalo Bills despite the fact he would have to sit out the entire 2013 season.  He’s gone on to be a two-time Pro Bowler and has played with the Bills, the Baltimore Ravens and the Denver Broncos, his current team.

A few reports yesterday claimed that Steve Kragthorpe had been hired as LSU’s new offensive coordinator.  But as we told you this morning, the Tigers’ media relations department said those reports weren’t true and that Les Miles wasn’t expected to announce a decision until next week.

Nevermind.  Kragthorpe’s the guy and everyone in the Pelican State knows it.  Whether LSU will admit it or not.

Former Tulsa and Louisville head coach Steve Kragthorpe will replace Gary Crowton in Baton Rouge and “a source close to the program” has confirmed the hiring to The Baton Rouge Advocate.

TigerBait.com is reporting the same thing.  Ditto The New Orleans Times Picayune.

Kragthorpe has been an offensive coordinator at Northern Arizona, North Texas and Texas A&M in addition to his two FBS head coaching jobs.  He also served for two years as the Buffalo Bills’ quarterbacks coach.

Tiger fans wanting to hear good things about your new coach, we suggest you talk to Tulsa backers… not Louisville fans.

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In only his third game this season after undergoing hip surgery, former South Carolina Gamecocks WR Sidney Rice, of the Minnesota Vikings, caught five passes for 105 yards and two touchdowns yesterday versus the Buffalo Bills.  Both touchdown passes were thrown by Tarvaris Jackson, who replaced Brett Favre after Favre was knocked out of the game with a shoulder injury.  Rice, who made the Pro Bowl last year, now has eight receptions for 181 yards and two touchdowns since returning to action.