Marcus Lattimore saw the 408 area code flash onto his phone and wasn't sure who might be calling him. It was coach Jim Harbaugh from San Francisco 49ers headquarters in Santa Clara. The 49ers were selecting Lattimore with a compensatory pick near the end of the fourth round. Lattimore would be joining the NFC champions about six months after suffering a catastrophic knee injury while playing for South Carolina against Tennessee.
Lattimore might not play in 2013. The 49ers are in no rush to get him on the field. They want him to get the knee right first.