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RB Maurice Clarett (B1G Freshman of the Year, National Champion)

TAKE ME HOME

We only got one season of Maurice Clarett, but it was absolutely glorious and worth revisiting.

Enjoy!



Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...nter-being-prepped-for-1100-covid-19-patients

He rushed for 1,237 yards his Freshman year and wasn't 100% healthy for all the games. Archie Griffin rushed for 867 yards his Freshman year. He did help Ohio State win a National Championship; but sadly, he's (basically) Ohio State's version of Oklahoma's Marcus Dupree, i.e. "the best that never was"......:no:
 
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The article quotes former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel, now the president of Youngstown State University.

"His heart was always there," Tressel said. "I remember when he first got to Ohio State, he talked about wanting to be a preacher, wanting to be a difference-maker in the urban areas. He's just a loyal guy to his roots."

Just sayin': Based on some of the stuff he did, that's surprising.....:nod:



In the decade since that episode, Clarett – now 36 years old – has worked tirelessly to become a positive force in the community.
 
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Maurice Clarett, now a UConn consultant, turning life around after time in prison

Maurice-Clarett.jpg


Tyler Polley knew of Maurice Clarett the football player. So did most of his UConn teammates.

What they didn’t know was his story — from college football superstar to NFL flameout to felon to what he has since become, a motivational speaker who founded a behavioral health agency named The Red Zone.

That first speech, a year later, still resonates because it was so revelatory.

“When he told his story, I was just in shock how he bounced back,” the senior said in a phone interview. “He pretty much lost everything. It’s inspiring.”

It was supposed to be a one-off meeting with the men’s basketball team at Connecticut, one of several guest speakers coach Dan Hurley has talk to his players during the summer. Instead, Clarett became part of the program at Hurley’s request. His official title is consultant. But after talking to Clarett, it sounds like he’s more of a therapist. Before the novel coronavirus pandemic hit, the 36-year-old Clarett spent up to three days every month with the team. Even when he isn’t around, he communicates with the players, frequently connecting with them over the phone.

“My thing isn’t to talk to them,” he said. “My thing is to listen to them.”

Most experts predicted NFL stardom for Clarett after he led Ohio State to a BCS national championship as a true freshman in 2002. It didn’t work out as planned. In 2003, he was suspended for receiving improper benefits, and eventually was dismissed from the Big Ten school. He challenged the NFL draft eligibility rules and lost, was drafted by the Broncos in the third round in 2005, but never appeared in a game.

His life went off the rails from there, sinking into alcoholism and a life of crime. He served 3 ¹/₂ years in prison for armed robbery before remaking his life with a drastic 180-degree turn. In 2016, he founded the Red Zone, which provides counseling for both children and adults in Youngstown, Ohio, and is looking to build a facility for college athletes dealing with substance abuse, mental health problems or other issues.

“Just a great resource for the guys,” Hurley said. “He’s awesome.”

It may seem like an odd fit, a football player from Ohio helping a college basketball team from Connecticut, but to Clarett it was a no-brainer. He connected with Hurley through a common friend of UConn assistant coach Kimani Young after Hurley heard him on a podcast and thought he would be a strong choice to speak to his players.

Clarett had spoken to plenty of teams before, but he has never been offered a regular gig, an opportunity he believes to really make a difference and create relationships. He gets plenty out of his trips to Storrs, Conn.

“It’s meaningful work,” he said. “You can’t beat meaningful work. If you’re not making a difference in somebody’s life, you’re really not living.”

Entire article: https://nypost.com/2020/06/27/mauri...fe-around-as-consultant-for-uconn-basketball/

I remember the time that, if you saw "Maurice Clarett" and "prison" in the same headline, you just knew it was a "bad thing". If there is any former Ohio State football player that I would like to see get a chance for a "do-over" in his career at Ohio State it is Clarett. Noah Spence might be a close second.
 
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I wish we could have seen what Clarett would have done if he just played his 3 seasons without the drama. It's hard to compare different players in different eras, but I'd put him up there with any true freshman RB.

On Earth-816, Drushaun Humphrey lives, Maurice Clarett doesn’t make any mistakes, and Drew Carter and Richard McNutt don’t suffer any knee/chronic ankle injuries… so Ohio State wins three consecutive national titles.
 
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