Thousands Lined Up to Meet Marcus Lattimore

Running out of time to meet the hero with an hour to go in his autograph session, Gamecock Nation stood faithful.

The line continued to grow. Snaking through the parking lot twice the length of the building before finally serpentining through the showroom at Bradshaw Automotive.

At a table with stacks of photos and several boxes of Sharpies stood Marcus Lattimore.

Flashing a smile for every camera. Offering a handshake to stranger after stranger. And finally setting pen to paper, Lattimore signed as many photos as he could in the two hours allotted.

And when the last seconds had ticked off the clock, Lattimore stepped outside say "Thank you," to his fans, many of whom would leave without his penned name in hand. He was met with cheers.

If anyone was disappointed when they left, it was probably Lattimore himself. Those close to him said he would have stayed to sign every photo and to have shaken every hand.

His biggest fan watched and waited on the sidelines. Laughing with friends, taking pictures with others and smiling that same beautiful smile as her son.

"It's amazing," said Lattimore's mother, Yolanda Smith, as she watched her son greet his fans. "He's done quite a few appearances and it's always the same each time. Lots of people and never enough time to sign something for them all."

Smith said she believes people are drawn to her son because of his faith and his can-do attitude even through a season-ending injury.

"He's focused on his faith and he has a very positive attitude," Smith said. "He can overcome anything, and get through all things in life because of that."

When asked about the upcoming NFL draft, Smith said she'd still love to see him go in the first round. But where would she like to see him play?

"It doesn't matter what team," Smith said. "They will be my favorite team."

Some waited for hours for just a couple of seconds in Lattimore's presence.

"It was such a pleasure to meet him," said William Henry, Jr., of Westminster. "I kind of froze up when I got up there. I didn't know what to say except that we've been praying for him."

Henry's father, William Henry Sr., said he's been very impressed by Lattimore during his time at USC.

"God bless him, he's been a spiritual leader for them," Henry, Sr. said.

Others came because they had supported Lattimore at Byrnes and followed the young star's career when he started at USC.

"He has an awesome faith to overcome," said one man as he stood in line with his wife and two small children. "It's an honor to maybe take a picture of him and get an autograph for these two girls. They won't remember it, but I will."

Debra Knighton of Greer wanted to show her support for the young star because of a special bond. 

"My son, Brandon Frady, played football with Marcus at Byrnes," she said. "He's a nice young man."

Austin Jones, 12, of Travelers Rest, just wanted to meet his hero and the person he hopes to one day emmulate on the football field.

"I hope when I play football I can wear 21," Jones said. "One day I hope I'm that good."