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South Carolina RB Marcus Lattimore

Green Bay Packers NFL Draft prospect profile: RB Marcus Lattimore

Player Information:

Marcus Lattimore, RB South Carolina
5-11, 221 pounds
Hometown: Duncan, SC

STATS

NFL Combine:

Lattimore did not participate in the NFL Scouting Combine. (Injured)

News and Notes:

Lattimore enters the NFL Draft as a junior … In 2012, his season ended Oct. 27 when he blew out his knee against Tennessee; he tore three of the four ligaments in his right knee … As a sophomore in 2011, Lattimore suffered a torn left ACL against Mississippi State … If healthy, most believe Lattimore would be the No. 1 running back in this draft class … Lattimore exploded onto the scene as a freshman in 2010, racking up 1,197 yards and 17 rushing touchdowns in the SEC … Has value as a receiver, catching a total of 74 passes in 29 games at South Carolina … He’s a first-round talent that will likely be a late third-round or early fourth-round pick based on health concerns.

 What they’re saying about him:   Read more... (663 words + 1 image, estimated 2:39 mins reading time)

• CBSSports.com: ”Very good at keeping defenders off balance, showing excellent acceleration, anticipation and footwork. Natural balance and feel between the tackles with good vision and patience to follow his blocks. Reliable receiving target, adjusting well to the ball with good focus. Never goes down easy and rarely goes out of bounds, running with toughness and confidence. Good effort in pass protection and not shy about giving up his body.”

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South Carolina S D.J. Swearinger

Green Bay Packers NFL Draft prospect profile: S D.J. Swearinger

Player Information:

D.J. Swearinger
5-10, 208 pounds
Hometown: Greenwood, SC

STATS

NFL Combine:

Vertical: 37 inches
40 time: 4.67
225-pound bench: 17 reps
Broad jump: 124 inches
3-cone drill: 6.7 seconds
20-yard shuttle: 4.11 seconds

News and Notes:

Hard-hitting three-year starter and captain of the South Carolina defense. … Played every position in the secondary while at South Carolina. … Totaled 80 tackles, two interceptions and seven pass breakups his senior season. … Blitzes off the edge. … Suspended for one game in 2012 after drilling a defenseless receiver. … Says he models his game after Ed Reed and Ray Lewis. … Gets a lot of praise for being a team leader. … Reputation as one of the hardest-hitting players in college football.

What they’re saying about him:  Read more... (587 words + 1 image, estimated 2:21 mins reading time)

• National Football Post: ”The game is not too big for him and he should be able to translate immediately at the NFL level. Worst case scenario is he is a solid special teamer and adds quality depth to a defensive backfield. He could work his way to being a starter but don’t expect him to be a difference maker but more a strong piece to the puzzle that doesn’t make the big error. Overall Swearinger is a great pick up in the 4th round and should have a long NFL career for some team.”

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South Carolina CB Stephon Gilmore

Green Bay Packers draft prospect profile: CB Stephon Gilmore, South Carolina

Player information:

• Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina
• 6-foot-0, 190 lbs
• Social sciences economics major and Detroit, Michigan native.

NFL Combine:

• 4.40 40yd dash
• 3.94 20yd shuttle
• 11.15 60yd shuttle
• 6.61 3-cone drill
• 123″ broad jump
• 36.0″ vertical jump
• 15 bench press reps

News & Notes:

South Carolina’s “Mr. Football” in 2008 as a game-breaking quarterback, Gilmore was recruited by Steve Spurrier to be a defensive back for the Gamecocks. That move paid off almost immediately. Gilmore started every game his freshman year, notching one interception and three sacks while earning Freshman All-American honors. By the time he was done with his junior season, Gilmore had registered 40 straight starts and was a first-team All-SEC and third-team All-American selection. Touted as a team leader with size (6’1″) and physicality, Gilmore is widely considered one of the draft’s top-5 cornerbacks. Compares to Charles Woodson.

What they’re saying about him:

Wes Bunting (National Football Post):  ”Is a “plus” sized corner with good quickness and fluidity. Needs to clean up his footwork in off/zone concepts, but has skill set to play near the line, check receivers and turn and run. Should be able to fight for a starting role during his rookie year in more of a zone scheme.”  Read more... (483 words + 1 image, estimated 1:56 mins reading time)

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The Green Bay Packers signed South Carolina wide receiver Tori Gurley Monday night, following up their acquistion of Utah kick returner Shaky Smithson.

Gurley didn’t make an official visit to the Packers before the draft. At 6-4, 220 pounds, Gurley is an imposing receiver who surprised some by coming out after just his redshirt sophomore season. At the NFL combine, Gurley ran the 40-yard dash in 4.53 seconds, the 20-yard dash in 2.67 and the 10 in 1.62. He also benched 225 pounds 15 times and had a vertical leap of 33.5 inches. He chose not to run at his pro day in March.

College summary

Gurley certainly didn’t light up the stat book in his two years at South Carolina. He caught just 31 passes for 440 yards and two touchdowns in his redshirt freshman season, and he followed that up with 44 catches for 465 yards and four touchdowns the next season. Joe Schad of ESPN did state that Gurley was “one of the most sure-handed receivers in the nation with no drops the entire season.”

During the 2010 season, Gurley had one of the best games in South Carolina’s receiving history. He caught 13 passes (one short of the school record) for 109 yards and a touchdown. But for most of his career at South Carolina, Gurley was stuck behind likely 2012 first rounder Alshon Jeffrey and his production lagged behind.

Commentary  Read more... (493 words + 1 image, estimated 1:58 mins reading time)

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