Marcus Lattimore and Frank Gore Joined at the knee USA Today

Running back Marcus Lattimore worked out for NFL scouts at South Carolina's pro day March 27.(Photo Bart Boatwright USA TODAY Sports)

SANTA CLARA Calif. Shortly after Marcus Lattimore suffered the devastating right knee injury last year that clouded his future one of the first of several NFL players to call with encouragement was San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore.

Now Lattimore undoubtedly will develop an even closer bond with Gore.

The 49ers drafted the rehabbing former South Carolina running back with a fourth round compensatory pick on Saturday (131st overall) providing him the opportunity to continue on his road to recovery as an understudy to Gore a man who can surely relate to his challenge.

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Gore overcame two major knee injuries during his college career at Miami (Fla.) but has evolved into one of the NFL's best running backs.

I know I'm going to get to know him a little better once I get there Lattimore speaking from Columbia S.C. told news reporters during a conference call Saturday. So I'm real excited about that.

Lattimore seemed destined to become the top rated running back in the draft until suffering a gruesome injury against Tennessee when his knee was dislocated and three ligaments were torn. A year after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee he had reconstructive surgery Nov. 2 performed by renowned surgeon James Andrews to repair the anterior cruciate lateral collateral and posterior cruciate ligaments in his right knee.

Right after it happened I doubted myself and I lost hope said Lattimore who scored a school record 41 touchdowns. But one of my good friends came over I got a chance to talk to Frank Gore I got a chance to talk to Willis McGahee and I realized God doesn't make mistakes. He did everything for a reason and he put me in this situation. Now I'm with the 49ers. It's just a great great situation for me.

Lattimore 5 11 1/2 232 pounds is one of the most inspirational stories of the draft given the magnitude of his comeback. After his pro day workout in March he was given a standing ovation by scouts and coaches in attendance.

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His rehab is a work in progress and it's expected that he will begin training camp on the physically unable to perform list. He reports that he has progressed to the point where he has been running sprints straight ahead for two weeks and is able to perform box jumps. He hasn't begun agility work but hasn't had any setbacks.

Getting drafted by the 49ers

It's still surreal to me he said. This is a great opportunity with a great organization and I can't wait to get there. I've always been a fan of those guys just their style of play and how they do everything.

The 49ers are in no rush. The priority coach Jim Harbaugh said is getting a player who is 100 percent whenever that comes.

If he doesn't play this year he doesn't play this year Harbaigh said. But I think if there's anyone who can overcome what he's been through it's him.

Harbaugh said that he admires the aggressive mental approach that Lattimore had carried throughout his rehab but added We're going to slow things down for him physically.

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Asked whether he would prefer that Lattimore took an essential redshirt year to recover the coach responded It's not what I want. It's what's prudent.

The talent rich defending NFC champions who entered draft with an NFL high 13 picks could afford to take a gamble and wait on Lattimore's recovery. And he's not the only one they will be patient with. In the second round San Francisco drafted Florida State defensive end Tank Carradine coming off a torn ACL.

Lattimore says that in his case the support and inspiration from Gore has provided a boost. Gore was connected with Lattimore by 49ers cornerback Chris Culliver who played with the running back at South Carolina.

Lattimore said he has talked to Gore only a few times but that they also have communicated through text messages.

He was just asking me how I'm handling all of this because he's been through the same thing with the injuries and all Lattimore said. He's just told me to keep that positive mind set and that's what I've been doing these past five six months. And I feel like that's why I'm doing so great with my rehab.

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PHOTOS Marcus Lattimore's career

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