Palmetto Proving Grounds

Based on your question, which is a darn good one, I'd say Derek Watson. No one would argue that Derek is quicker and faster than Marcus, so if you added ALL the things that make Marcus special (on AND off the field), Derek would theoretically been the best of the three. Having said that, Marcus would be my favorite because he's a well rounded and humble young man. I was a student during the Watson years and saw him often, either at the Round House or the gym playing basketball. "Humble" was not in Derek's personality.

Your welcome. I wish I could've shed more light on the subject like you did, but some of us just aren't that smart are we.

basically you are asking, "what if Watson and Summers were Lattimore"?

I'll take the guy who has it all already ML21

Summers had the most raw talent. With lattimore's brain he could have been one of the best running backs to ever suit up. But there's no question that Lattimore wins the "who's the best out of the three" contest. He has the brain and the skills.

If we're talking strictly talent and all the intangibles being even I would rank them:

1.Watson-He was here when I was in school and the highlight plays this guy would put up were just unbelievable. A few of them are his 1st game against NC State in terrible weather when he made a big run when he reversed field and still managed to make a play on pure talent alone, a catch in a losing effort against Bama in 2000 where he totally sacrificed himself going up in the air, taking a huge hit and coming down with a big first down, in the Swamp against Fla. for the SEC East when he ran for a 20+ yd TD and then blocked a punt for a TD in like a 5 minute span, and the long TD against clemson in which he pointed back at Tye Hill as he outran him. Unfortunately he couldn't get it together off the field while he was here, but even with those problems he was still an All-SEC performer here.

2.Lattimore- All you ever hear about is this guys work ethic and what a great person he is, but it sometimes gets lost that he is supremely talented as well. There are a lot of good guys that work as hard as anyone at this sport, but they don't run for 200+ and multiple TD's against top SEC competition. It's difficult to compare him to Watson as they are different types of backs and while I definitely think Lattimore is easily the best player on this list(no contest) I just think Watson could have put up the same numbers if he had put in the work and been as focused.

3.Summers-I was as excited as anyone when we landed this guy, and thought at the time that Lou had us in position to really win big. The production just was never really there with Summers like it has been with Watson or Lattimore. Both of those guys have had multiple games were they basically carried the offense on their backs and delivered us to a win. I can only think of 1 game against UT in Knoxville where Summers took over and it resulted in an OT loss.

Based on the question I have to go with Watson. For some reason I've always had a soft spot for Watson. If he had Lattimores upbringing instead of the one he had, I think he could be special. Watson was always one of my favorite players to watch and you could never say he didn't leave it all in the field. I still remember the blackout game against Florida where we down like 40 in the 4th and him still giving it everything he had and him taking this absolute cheap but hard hit onto that tough stuff on the sideline. He laid there a second obviously hurting and ran back and took the next carry. Like a few others said he was electric with the ball in his hand. With all that being said Lattimore will go down as probably my favorite Gamecock for everything he's done for the program

I know Watson could have .

Could he do and and get stronger as he goes? No chance