Lattimore, who runs youth football camps in South Carolina through his foundation, had to choose between the camps and the role of a paid team ambassador for South Carolina football because of the NCAA’s new ruling to ban the use of satellite camps like Lattimore’s from the recruiting process.
MORE: Satellite ban likely to be revisited
“There was no getting around that rule," Lattimore told TheState.com. “I just really had to make a decision on, ‘Do I want to be tied to one thing, or do I want to help all the youth in this state?’ ”
As a part of its ruling, the NCAA also said having Lattimore on South Carolina’s staff was an unfair recruiting advantage.
Lattimore is still allowed to speak with current players and promote Gamecock football as long as he isn’t compensated by South Carolina.
Lattimore, the Gamecocks’ all-time leader in rushing touchdowns, suffered a gruesome knee injury in 2012, ending his college career. Although he was selected by the 49ers in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL Draft, he never played in an NFL game and announced his retirement in 2014.
Lattimore also released the following statement Monday:
