With just under five minutes to go in the first half, Lattimore, considered one of if not the top running back for next year’s NFL Draft, was running through the left side when he was tackled by Volunteers defensive back Eric Gordon, Lattimore’s right leg whipping around and slamming against the turf.

South Carolina trainers immediately rushed to the junior running back’s side, keeping Lattimore flat on his back as he attempted to sit up and see the injury. Eventually, Lattimore was placed onto a cart and driven off the field, and, along with his family, was taken to a local hospital.

While South Carolina has yet to divulge the nature of Lattimore’s injury, video footage of the incident suggests the star will be out for at least the remainder of the 2012 season.

“It looked severe on the field, but we’ll have to wait and see,” South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier said at halftime.

NBC Sports notes it’s the second straight year the talented and well-liked Lattimore has suffered a serious knee injury. In 2011, Lattimore missed the final six games of the season after tearing the ACL in his left leg against Mississippi State.

Prior to Saturday’s injury, Lattimore rushed for 65 yards, including a breakaway 28-yard TD run in the first half after coming into the game with 597 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns on the season.

Watch Marcus Lattimore’s gruesome knee injury against Tennessee in the video below:

(WARNING: the video below shows a gruesome injury. You may not want to watch if you are squeamish.)

Marcus Lattimore Injury: South Carolina Star RB Suffers Gruesome Knee Injury [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr