Charles de Gaulle, the President of France, once said of Brazil, “It has potential and always will.” That is precisely the case with Maurice Clarett. He had the greatest single play in college football history to cap off a brilliant freshman season at running back for the Ohio State Buckeyes. He then tried to go professional, and neither he nor the National Football League was ready. He ended up in jail, wasting great talent. This article will detail that one season and discuss Clarett’s failed attempt to turn professional and how he eventually ended up in jail.
Maurice Clarett’s Season Stats
Maurice Clarett was brilliant in his freshman year at Ohio State. That was 2002. On 222 rushes, Clarett accumulated 1,237 yards and scored 18 touchdowns. He was the featured running back at Ohio State as a freshman. The last freshman before Clarett to start at running back for the Buckeyes was named Archie Griffin, and he went on to win two Heisman Trophies. He is the only person who ever accomplished that feat. Maurice Clarett was, obviously, highly rated coming out of high school.
To cap his freshman season, Maurice Clarett and the OSU Buckeyes won a national championship, and he made what was probably the greatest play in football history. With Ohio State driving inside the 20-yard line of the University of Miami (who were big favorites and had won 34 consecutive games), quarterback Craig Krenzel threw a pass intercepted by Sean Taylor. Maurice Clarett turned defender on that play. Clarett ran behind Taylor, tackled him, and stole the ball. He saved Craig Krezel’s bacon.
Maurice Clarett’s promising freshman year ending with such a spectacular play on a national stage was, without a doubt, the high point of his football career and maybe his life.
After Ohio State
After his freshman season at OSU, Maurice Clarett unsuccessfully sued to turn professional. Ultimately, the United States Circuit Court decided his case. Future Supreme Court Justice Sandra Sotomayor wrote the majority opinion.
After sitting out more than a year, Maurice Clarett was drafted in the third round, 101st overall by the Denver Broncos. The time off had eroded his skills, and he was out of shape. He was underwhelming in his attempt. He never carried the ball in a regular-season game for the Broncos and was released at the end of the season.
There was some talk of Maurice Clarett playing in the XFL or NFL Europe, but he did not play for either league. Clarett eventually played in the United Football League (UFL) for the Omaha Nighthawks (a semi-professional team). The UFL suspended operations in 2012, effectively ending Clarett’s football career. There were many more troubles ahead.
Jail for Maurice Clarett
Maurice Clarett had a series of run-ins with the law and problems with alcohol. In the early morning of August 9, 2006, Clarett was stopped while making a U-Turn. Police found in his car an AK-47, two handguns, and an open bottle of Grey Goose Vodka. He was convicted of possession of weapons and went to jail. While in jail, Maurice Clarett shared his thoughts in a blog. He was released in 2010. Since then, Clarett has been involved in several non-profit organizations supporting mental well-being and youth in the Youngstown, OH area, where Clarett is from.
Conclusion
Maurice Clarett had a spectacular freshman season that ended with an emphatic exclamation point on national television. That was the peak of his football career and his life. Clarett then began a period of self-destructive behavior that landed him in jail. Having achieved so much at such a young age and then flaming out, Maurice Clarett was certainly like Brazil – he had tantalizing potential.
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