Latest local news, weather and high school sports from the Midlands

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WACH) - Another day, another amazing story about former Gamecock Marcus Lattimore, who could be on the verge of pulling off a near medical miracle.

Four months after suffering a catastrophic knee injury against Tennessee, Lattimore's doctor James Andrews, who repaired the runningback's ACL, LCL and PCL, tells USA TODAY Sports Lattimore is doing the "impossible" by putting on 20 pounds of muscle during his rehab.

"He's twice as far along as we ever expected him to be. He's so self motivated," Andrews told USA TODAY Sports. "This weight he's put on has been all muscle, which is absolutely impossible in most cases. It remains to be seen if he can play this season."

Lattimore is determined to write a comeback story like Adrian Peterson's, the Minnesota Vikings runningback who returned from a similar injury this past season by rushing for more than 2,000 yards and an MVP season.

"I want to be an inspiration," Lattimore told USA TODAY Sports. "To let people know that with hard work, and when you trust in God, you can come back from anything and do anything."

Andrews says Lattimore is three months ahead of schedule on his rehab. The former Gamecock great is set to meet with NFL representatives at this week's NFL combine in Indianapolis. Andrews will accompany him to answer any questions teams might have about Lattimore's injury and recovery.

Lattimore will not participate in any physical drills at this week's NFL combine. He says he plans to start running again the Monday after the combine.

Before his knee injury, Lattimore was projected as a first-round draft pick in the 2013 NFL draft.  Despite the long road to recovery in front of him, he has been rising up the projected draft boards lately.  Some now have him pegged as a third-round choice.

(USA TODAY Sports contributed to this report.)