Maurice Clarett | The War Room | HoustonProFootball.com 
Running Back
Maurice Clarett
College: Ohio State
Year: N/A
Height: 5’11"
Weight: 230
Birthday: October 29, 1983
He fought the law and the law won. After only one year in college, Maurice Clarett took the NFL to court to challenge its draft eligibility rule and enter the 2004 draft. The trial judge ruled in his favor but he lost on appeal, so he must wait for 2005.
Clarett was an impact player for Ohio State and a key component in the Buckeyes’ 2002 national championship run. He is a powerful, downhill runner who consistently gains extra yards on second effort. Clarett has good vision and uses his blockers well. He can catch and, unlike many feature backs at the college level, does a decent job of picking up the blitz.
Clarett has not played football since the 2002 season, so he will have spent two years on the shelf by the time he suits up again. The rust from his extended layoff and his overall inexperience could make for a rough transition to the NFL. Clarett has not shown that he has the durability to be an NFL franchise back, having missed time in his only college season due to knee and shoulder injuries.
The biggest negative surrounding Clarett involves his character and maturity. He had problems with coaches and authority in general at Ohio State, and the school ultimately suspended him for receiving illegal benefits and misleading investigators. Clarett also plead guilty to charges stemming from his filing of a false police report in which he claimed that thousands of dollars worth of property had been stolen from a car that he had been driving.
If Clarett, who is now reportedly living in Texas, grows up and learns to toe the line, his talent could take him a long way in the NFL. If not, he will be known more for his failed legal battle than his on-field exploits.
(profile written by Warren DeLuca)
Maurice Clarett’s 2002 Stats G CAR YDS AVG TD 11 222 1,237 5.6 18 
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