49ers take RB Marcus Lattimore in 4th round, 7 Gamecocks Taken Overall
COLUMBIA, SC (AP) - The San Francisco 49ers selected running back Marcus Lattimore out of South Carolina with the second of their two fourth-round selections in the NFL draft Saturday.
Lattimore comes to the 49ers after a junior season during which he suffered a career-threatening right knee injury in South Carolina's ninth game, one year after Lattimore suffered torn ligaments in his left knee midway through his sophomore season.
Despite the injuries, Lattimore still set South Carolina school records with 38 career rushing touchdowns and 41 total touchdowns in just 29 games. The NCAA's Freshman of the Year in 2010, Lattimore rushed for 2,677 yards in three abbreviated seasons.
He will get an opportunity with the 49ers to add punch to a backfield that includes four-time Pro Bowl running back Frank Gore, who also had serious injuries to both knees in college but went on to become a star in the NFL. San Francisco's top backup running back last year, Kendall Hunter, is coming off a torn Achilles tendon that ended his season last year after 11 games.
Beaufort alum Taylor taken by Lions
Sanders heads to Jacksonville
The Jacksonville Jaguars have chosen speedy South Carolina punt returner Ace Sanders in the fourth round of the NFL draft.
The Jaguars chose the 5-foot-7 receiver with the 101st overall selection to beef up their special teams. Sanders was a standout punt returner for the Gamecocks.
Jacksonville had the first pick in the fourth round Saturday, but they traded the 98th overall selection to Philadelphia for Nos. 101 and 210 (seventh round).
Sanders ran the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine in 4.58 seconds, considered a slow time for a speedster. But he was productive at South Carolina, returning 53 punts for an average of 11.2 yards and scoring three touchdowns in three seasons. He also caught 99 passes for 1,230 yards and 13 scores.
Holloman picked by Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys have taken South Carolina linebacker DeVonte Holloman in the sixth round of the NFL draft.
The Cowboys took Holloman with the 185th overall selection Saturday, their last pick of the draft. Dallas traded its seventh-round choice to Miami last year.
Holloman started more games at strong safety than linebacker in four years with the Gamecocks. He was an outside linebacker as a senior, finishing fourth on the team with 57 tackles and leading South Carolina with three interceptions.
The 6-foot-1, 246-pound Holloman was the first pick in the defensive front seven for Dallas, which is switching to the 4-3 this year.
TJ Johnson taken in 7th round by Bengals
The Bengals have chosen center T.J. Johnson from South Carolina with their final pick in the NFL draft.
They got Johnson with their second compensatory pick in the seventh round. They took Ohio State offensive tackle Reid Fragel with another compensatory pick earlier in the round.
It wrapped up a draft that had the Bengals taking seven players on offense - tight end, tackle, guard, center, receiver and two running backs - and three on defense, including a defensive end, linebacker and strong safety.
