South Carolina expects star running back Marcus Lattimore to play Saturday at No. 2 Florida, but won't know for sure until pregame warm-ups.
What has been determined is that Lattimore won't start the game. Coach Steve Spurrier said Thursday night that senior Kenny Miles would start at tailback and that freshman Mike Davis would also be ready.
Lattimore, slowed by a bruised hip, returned to practice Thursday, but was limited.
"Marcus, with that bruised hip, he's not going to start the game," Spurrier said Thursday night on his weekly radio show. "He's going to go, and we'll see how he does in warm-ups. But Kenny Miles is ready to go and so is Mike Davis. They've both practiced very well this week. But if Marcus says, 'Coach, I can go,' he's going to be in there sometime in the game. If not, Kenny Miles and Mike Davis will be our two tailbacks."
Not having Lattimore at all would be a huge blow for the No. 7 Gamecocks, especially with his penchant for getting the tough yards. Being able to convert on third-and-short and run the ball in the red zone will be crucial for South Carolina against a Florida defense ranked third in the SEC in rushing defense and allowing just 107.5 yards per game.
It would be a big surprise to Lattimore's teammates and his position coach, Everette Sands, if Lattimore didn't play. Sands said Wednesday when Lattimore didn't practice that he expected Lattimore to be ready to go.
Lattimore, who leads the Gamecocks in rushing with 584 yards and in receptions with 22, had a career-high 212 rushing yards on 40 carries and scored three touchdowns as a freshman at the Swamp in 2010.
Miles has carried the ball 27 times for 100 yards this season.
