Former Gamecocks running back Marcus Lattimore is stepping down from his position as South Carolina football's Director of Player Development, sources have confirmed to 247Sports. Former Gamecocks quarterback Connor Shaw is set to take over Lattimore's role.

South Carolina is coming off a 4-8 finish to the 2019 season, the Gamecocks' fourth under head coach Will Muschamp.

Lattimore, 28, was hired by South Carolina's staff in January 2018. The former five-star prospect and the No. 9 overall prospect in the Class of 2010, per the 247Sports Composite rankings, starred in the Gamecocks' backfield from 2010-2012.

Shaw, also 28 and a three-year teammate of Lattimore at South Carolina, served as the Gamecocks' starting quarterback from 2011-2013. Shaw, who stands as the winningest starting quarterback in South Carolina history, most recently served as the tight ends coach at Furman, a role which he took in January 2018 before stepping down that August.

Lattimore's playing career at South Carolina was highlighted by a prolific season as a true freshman in 2010. The Duncan, South Carolina native rushed for 1,197 yards and 17 touchdowns that fall, and caught for an additional 412 yards with a pair of touchdowns. The Gamecocks won the SEC East Division that season en route to posting a 9-5 overall record. Lattimore, in wake of his explosive debut season, was named the NCAA Freshman of the Year.

Injuries, however, plagued the bulk of Lattimore's football career after his freshman season at South Carolina. His sophomore campaign in 2011 -- one in which Lattimore still rushed for 818 yards and 10 touchdowns -- was cut short after suffering a knee injury that October. Knee issues resurfaced once again for Lattimore as a junior in 2012, limiting him to just nine games before declaring for the 2013 NFL Draft that December.

Lattimore was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL Draft, but spent less than two full seasons in the league before he announced his retirement in November 2014 in wake of his knee issues. Lattimore was initially set to join the South Carolina coaching staff in an advisory role in time for the 2016 campaign, but the NCAA blocked the hire, citing that Lattimore's presence would give the Gamecocks an "unfair recruiting advantage" due to Lattimore's involvement with high school football players in a charity that he ran.

As for Shaw, the Flowery Branch, Georgia native had a three-star rating and was rated the overall No. 11 dual-threat quarterback prospect in the Class of 2010, per the 247Sports Composite rankings. Shaw ended his time as South Carolina's starter with a 27-5 record. He passed for 6,074 yards and 56 touchdowns during his college career and rushed for an additional 1,683 yards with 17 touchdowns.

Shaw's run as the team's starter was highlighted by a senior season in 2013 that saw him pass for a career-high 2,447 yards and 24 touchdowns with just one interception. The 2013 season also saw him rush for 567 yards and 6 touchdowns as the Gamecocks worked their way to an 11-2 record and No. 4 AP ranking.

Shaw went undrafted in 2014 before signing a deal with the Cleveland Browns. After initially being released by Cleveland in late August, Shaw rejoined the franchise as a member of its practice squad and ultimately started for the Browns in their season-finale vs. the Baltimore Ravens that December. It was the first and only start of Shaw's NFL career.

South Carolina opens the 2020 season at home vs. Coastal Carolina on Saturday, Sept. 5.