Laurence Maroney

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Running Back
Laurence Maroney

College: Minnesota
Year: Junior
Height: 5’11"
Weight: 200
Birthday: February 5, 1985

Laurence Maroney started his collegiate career fourth on Minnesota’s depth chart among a roster full of NFL-quality running backs. That didn’t stop Maroney from eluding a freshman redshirt and several Big-10 tacklers en route to his first 1,000-yard season with the Gophers. Sharing carries with teammate Marion Barber, Maroney eclipsed the 1,000-yard barrier again as a sophomore.

The Maroney-Barber split is reminscent of the other recent dynamic duos at Virginia Tech, Auburn, and Oregon. Think of Maroney as the Kevin Jones, the Carnell Williams, or the Onterrio Smith, respectively, in those comparisons. Maroney just runs like he loves to play the game. With his sub-4.4 speed in the forty, he is as shifty with the ball in his hands as he is creative. He hits the hole quickly and explodes through it, then has the breakaway speed to take it all the way.

Maroney knows he’s got the goods, too. His mouth runs about as much as his legs, to the point that even his college coach thought he was obnoxious during a recruiting visit. Maroney could stand to be a bit more patient, too, as he seems to bust his runs outside at times when he should wait for a hole and cut back up the middle.

Maroney hasn’t shown much as a receiver, but that is probably more of a product of the Gophers’ offensive gameplan than it is any deficiency in Maroney’s skills. And while he may prefer to rush outside and turn the corner, Maroney is also quite capable of being an elusive inside runner, too. Despite what he may lack in size, Maroney hits hard when he lowers his shoulder, and he’s not an easy man to tackle on any part of the field.

(profile written by Keith Weiland)

Laurence Maroney’s 2004 Stats G CAR YDS AVG TD 12 217 1,348 6.2 12 DeAngelo Williams Laurence Maroney Home

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