Maurice Edward Clarett is a former American football running back who played for the Ohio State Buckeyes football team. He also played professionally for the Omaha Nighthawks of the United Football League.
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During his freshman year at Ohio State University in 2002, he helped lead the Buckeyes to a national championship. In a widely unexpected move, Clarett was drafted on the first day of the 2005 NFL Draft with the final pick of the 3rd round (#101 overall) by the Denver Broncos.
He is well known for unsuccessfully challenging the NFL’s draft eligibility rules requiring a player to be three years removed from high school and for his tumultuous life outside of football, including his dismissal from Ohio State, several arrests, and imprisonment.
In the years after his release from prison, Clarett became a public speaker talking candidly about his previous struggles and recovery. Later, Clarett founded a behavioral health agency in Youngstown, Ohio. In recent years, Clarett has become a entrepreneur and was appointed to the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber of Commerce Board in February 2022.
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Maurice Clarett Stats
| Rk | Year | Date | School | Opponent | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2002 | 2002-08-24 | Ohio State | Texas Tech | W | 21 | 175 | 8.3 | 3 | 4 | 30 | 7.5 | 0 | |
| 2 | 2002 | 2002-09-07 | Ohio State | Kent State | W | 11 | 66 | 6.0 | 1 | 2 | 16 | 8.0 | 1 | |
| 3 | 2002 | 2002-09-14 | Ohio State | Washington State | W | 31 | 230 | 7.4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 4 | 2002 | 2002-09-28 | Ohio State | Indiana | W | 21 | 104 | 5.0 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 8.0 | 0 | |
| 5 | 2002 | 2002-10-05 | Ohio State | @ | Northwestern | W | 29 | 140 | 4.8 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 9.0 | 0 |
| 6 | 2002 | 2002-10-12 | Ohio State | San Jose State | W | 18 | 132 | 7.3 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 7.0 | 1 | |
| 7 | 2002 | 2002-10-19 | Ohio State | @ | Wisconsin | W | 30 | 133 | 4.4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 8 | 2002 | 2002-10-26 | Ohio State | Penn State | W | 4 | 39 | 9.8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 9 | 2002 | 2002-11-09 | Ohio State | @ | Purdue | W | 14 | 52 | 3.7 | 0 | 1 | -1 | -1.0 | 0 |
| 10 | 2002 | 2002-11-23 | Ohio State | Michigan | W | 20 | 119 | 6.0 | 1 | 2 | 35 | 17.5 | 0 | |
| 11 | 2002 | 2003-01-03 | Ohio State | N | Miami (FL)* | W | 23 | 47 | 2.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 11 Games | 222 | 1237 | 5.6 | 16 | 12 | 104 | 8.7 | 2 |
Maurice Clarett 40 Time
Maurice Clarett NFL Career
In his attempt to enter the 2004 NFL Draft, Clarett challenged the NFL’s rule that a player must wait three years after graduating from high school to declare for the draft. Federal Judge Shira Scheindlin initially ruled based on anti-trust grounds that the NFL could not bar Clarett from participating in the 2004 draft.
This decision was later overturned by the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in an opinion by Judge Sonia Sotomayor, and Clarett’s petition for certiorari was refused by the Supreme Court. Clarett and USC wide receiver Mike Williams, who were both hoping to enter the draft early, were then barred from the draft by the NFL.
Later, because they both signed agents before being denied the opportunity to join the NFL Draft, the NCAA refused to reinstate the college eligibility of Clarett or Williams.
Maurice Clarett 2022
In recent years, Clarett has become an entrepreneur and was appointed to the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber of Commerce Board in February 2022.
Maurice Clarett Age
38 years
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