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Maurice Clarett

Updated: 12/20/2025, 1:31:12 PM Wikipedia source

Maurice Edward Clarett (born October 29, 1983) is an American former professional football player who was a running back for the Omaha Nighthawks of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes. During his freshman year he helped lead the Buckeyes to a national championship. In a widely unexpected move Clarett was selected on the first day of the 2005 NFL draft with the final pick of the third round (#101 overall) by the Denver Broncos. Clarett unsuccessfully challenged the NFL's draft eligibility rules that required a player to be three years removed from high school. His tumultuous life outside football included 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 was appointed to the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber of Commerce Board in February 2022.

Infobox

Position
Running back
Born
(1983-10-29) October 29, 1983 (age 42)Youngstown, Ohio, U.S.
Height
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight
234 lb (106 kg)
High school
Warren G. Harding(Warren, Ohio)
College
Ohio State (2002–2003)
NFL draft
2005: 3rd round, 101st overall pick

Tables

Pre-draft measurables · Football career › National Football League
mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- 5 ft 11+5⁄8 in(1.82 m)
mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- 5 ft 11+5⁄8 in(1.82 m)
Height
mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- 5 ft 11+5⁄8 in(1.82 m)
Weight
234 lb(106 kg)
Arm length
30+3⁄4 in(0.78 m)
Hand span
9+1⁄2 in(0.24 m)
40-yard dash
4.78 s
10-yard split
1.63 s
20-yard split
2.81 s
20-yard shuttle
4.42 s
Three-cone drill
7.41 s
Vertical jump
34.0 in(0.86 m)
Broad jump
9 ft 7 in(2.92 m)
Bench press
22 reps
All values from NFL Combine
All values from NFL Combine
Height
All values from NFL Combine
Height
Weight
Arm length
Hand span
40-yard dash
10-yard split
20-yard split
20-yard shuttle
Three-cone drill
Vertical jump
Broad jump
Bench press
mw- .mw- 5 ft 11+5⁄8 in(1.82 m)
234 lb(106 kg)
30+3⁄4 in(0.78 m)
9+1⁄2 in(0.24 m)
4.78 s
1.63 s
2.81 s
4.42 s
7.41 s
34.0 in(0.86 m)
9 ft 7 in(2.92 m)
22 reps
All values from NFL Combine

References

  1. "ESPN Player Card"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20060525035145/http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=7277
  2. www.msn.com
    https://web.archive.org/web/20150928021754/http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/ncaafb/maurice-clarett-has-found-a-second-life-in-sharing-his-first/ar-BBlSzJx?ocid=OIE9HP
  3. thestate
    https://www.thestate.com/sports/college/university-of-south-carolina/usc-football/article207917479.html
  4. "Maurice Clarett opens up about how he found his calling after prison"
    https://www.nbc4i.com/news/local-news/maurice-clarett-opens-up-about-how-he-found-his-calling-after-prison/1318296512
  5. Business Journal Daily | The Youngstown Publishing Company
    https://businessjournaldaily.com/regional-chamber-welcomes-seven-new-board-members/
  6. "NFL.com - Prospect Profile"
    http://fryingpansports.com/nfl-com-prospect-profile/
  7. "Maurice Clarett"
    https://footballrecruiting.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?Sport=1&pr_key=418
  8. ESPN.com
    https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=2545204
  9. "Clarett's call came two hours before arrest"
    https://www.espn.com/nfl/columns/story?id=2545078
  10. "Ex-OSU star Clarett talks drugs, jail, football"
    https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/8747028/maurice-clarett-formerly-ohio-state-buckeyes-talks-drugs-jail-football
  11. "Citing depression, Maurice Clarett joins call to boost Medicaid"
    http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/public/2013/08/28/Maurice-Clarett-talks-mental-illness-promotes-medicaid-expansion.html
  12. DraftScout.com
    https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=32682&DraftYear=2005
  13. See Clarett v. Nat'l Football League, 306 F. Supp. 2d 379 (S.D.N.Y. 2004)
  14. See Clarett v. Nat'l Football League, 369 F.3d 124 (2d Cir. 2004), cert. denied, 125 S. Ct. 1728 (2005)
  15. St. Louis Post-Dispatch
    https://www.stltoday.com/sports/for-his-own-good-a-tough-military-academy-helped-mold/article_a5285ef5-ab38-5bc9-8bcc-00a9a07e2544.html
  16. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
    http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/04037/269923-233.stm
  17. The Denver Post
    https://www.denverpost.com/2005/08/29/finley-would-have-fit-fine-in-denver/
  18. ESPN.com
    https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft05/columns/story?id=2004345
  19. Pro-Football-Reference.com
    https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2005/draft.htm
  20. www.nfldraftscout.com
    https://web.archive.org/web/20120213235132/http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=32682&draftyear=2005&genpos=RB
  21. John Clayton
    https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=2145372
  22. Miami Herald
    https://web.archive.org/web/20051210213538/http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/football/12575349.htm
  23. "Steubenville Stampede: Ready To Play?"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20051211112025/http://www.wtov9.com/news/5307279/detail.html
  24. The Vindicator
    http://www.vindy.com/news/2006/jul/14/clarett-says-hell-play-for-mahoning-valley-hitmen/
  25. Miller, Rusty (August 25, 2010). "Clarett given OK to attend Omaha tryout". Associated Press.
    https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=5497073
  26. "Maurice Clarett asks judge to allow travel for UFL tryout"
    https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=5488450
  27. "Report: UFL's Omaha Nighthawks sign Clarett"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20100903012004/http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/38918897/ns/sports-player_news/
  28. [1][permanent dead link]
    http://www.ufl-football.com/sites/default/files/Week10Reports.pdf
  29. "Maurice Clarett to play rugby event"
    https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/9285175/maurice-clarett-play-rugby-event-ohio
  30. "Clarett No Longer with Tiger Rugby"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20131212035300/http://www.rugbymag.com/news/clubs/club-sevens/8126-clarett-no-longer-with-tiger-rugby.html
  31. CBS Sportsline Ex-Buckeye Clarett accused of robbing couple at gunpoint Archived January 3, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
    http://www.sportsline.com/collegefootball/story/9133071
  32. CBS Sportsline Ex-Ohio State star Clarett appears in court, posts $50K bond Archived January 5, 2006, at the Wayback Mac
    http://www.sportsline.com/collegefootball/story/9138326
  33. Columbus Dispatch Clarett indicted; 2 others sought Archived February 22, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
    http://www.columbusdispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/02/11/20060211-D1-03.html
  34. Columbus Dispatch Clarett pleads not guilty at clerk's office to avoid media
    https://archive.today/20110523081840/http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/02/23/20060223-B4-00.html
  35. Columbus Dispatch Clarett fires his lawyers: Ex-Buckeye without legal help 2 weeks before start of trial
    https://archive.today/20110523081848/http://www.dispatch.com/football/football.php?story=dispatch/2006/07/26/20060726-B5-01.html
  36. Yahoo! Sports Former Ohio State tailback hires 2 attorneys
    https://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/news?slug=ap-clarett-lawyers&prov=ap&type=lgns
  37. NBC4i Clarett Arrested; Police Find Arsenal Of Weapons Inside SUV Archived October 22, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
    http://www.nbc4i.com/news/9651643/detail.html
  38. WBNS-10TV Clarett to Appear in Court Friday Afternoon Archived August 10, 2017, at the Wayback Machine
    http://www.10tv.com/?sec=home&story=10tv/content/pool/200608/451843144.html
  39. NBC4i Clarett Ordered To Undergo Mental Health Evaluation[permanent dead link]
    http://www.nbc4i.com/news/9667511/detail.html
  40. USA Today Ex-Ohio State star Clarett accused of robbing two people Archived February 20, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
    https://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/2006-01-01-clarett-robbery_x.htm?POE=SPOISVA
  41. Columbus Dispatch, Police chase map[permanent dead link]
    http://www.dispatch.com/football/football.php?story=dispatch/2006/08/10/20060810-A1-02.html
  42. "Maurice Clarett's Last Call, Possibly, As a Free Man"
    https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/story?id=2297018&page=1
  43. NBC4i, Hearing Set To Determine Clarett's Competency[permanent dead link]
    http://www.nbc4i.com/news/9659608/detail.html
  44. ESPN.com
    https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=2593068
  45. The Post
    https://www.thepostathens.com/article/2009/03/former-buckeye-tailback-takes-ou-courses-from-prison
  46. "Ex-Buckeye Maurice Clarett Granted Early Release"
    https://archive.today/20130129161705/http://www2.nbc4i.com/cmh/news/local/article/ex-buckeye_maurice_clarett_granted_parole/34766/
  47. "Conservation to Myself/ Reflecting"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20091215221716/http://mauriceclarett.wordpress.com/2009/04/09/conservation-to-myself-reflecting/
  48. Fox Sports
    https://web.archive.org/web/20150924040249/http://www.foxsports.com/college-football/story/ohio-state-buckeyes-maurice-clarett-makes-most-of-second-chance-081915
  49. cleveland.com
    http://www.cleveland.com/osu/index.ssf/2012/11/only_good_feelings_for_maurice.html
  50. Forbes
    https://www.forbes.com/sites/alanaglass/2013/12/14/maurice-clarett-jim-tressel-reconcile-the-past-in-espns-youngstown-boys/2/
  51. ESPN.com
    https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/14503009/former-ohio-state-buckeyes-star-maurice-clarett-arrested-ovi
  52. "Maurice Clarett turning life around as consultant for UConn basketball"
    https://nypost.com/2020/06/27/maurice-clarett-turning-life-around-as-consultant-for-uconn-basketball/
  53. The Columbus Dispatch
    https://www.dispatch.com/story/sports/college/football/2025/01/01/ryan-day-welcomes-back-maurice-clarett-ohio-state/77356759007/
  54. CT Insider
    https://www.ctinsider.com/sports/uconn-mens-basketball/article/Maurice-Clarett-is-a-helping-hand-and-a-huge-fan-17687198.php
  55. Cleveland.com
    https://www.cleveland.com/osu/2025/01/its-an-honor-to-be-back-maurice-clarett-shares-heartfelt-post-after-ohio-state-football-win.html
  56. theredzone
    https://www.theredzone330.com/
  57. "Report: The Red Zone improves academic performance in Youngstown students"
    https://www.wkbn.com/news/local-news/report-the-red-zone-improves-academic-performance-in-youngstown-students/1320037886
  58. CT Insider
    https://www.ctinsider.com/uconn/article/Dan-Hurley-s-deep-UConn-roster-will-have-16482957.php
  59. The Lantern
    https://www.thelantern.com/2017/05/maurice-clarett-shares-personal-experiences-in-push-for-ohio-criminal-justice-reform/
  60. The Buckeye Institute
    https://www.buckeyeinstitute.org/research/detail/need-for-criminal-justice-reform-topic-of-conversation-at-buckeye-panel
  61. The Columbus Dispatch
    https://www.dispatch.com/opinion/20170503/maurice-clarett-route-to-village-started-in-toledo-prison-cell
  62. The Columbus Dispatch
    https://www.dispatch.com/news/20171205/ex-ohio-state-football-star-maurice-clarett-helping-out-joe-schiavoni
  63. cleveland.com
    http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2018/05/richard_cordray_wins_the_ohio.html
  64. "Candidates for Ohio governor on both sides talk to Valley voters"
    https://www.wkbn.com/news/local-news/candidates-for-ohio-governor-on-both-sides-talk-to-valley-voters/1130318938
  65. Business Journal Daily
    https://businessjournaldaily.com/regional-chamber-welcomes-seven-new-board-members/
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