Maurice Clarett facts for kids

Maurice Edward Clarett (born October 29, 1983) is an American former professional football player. He was a running back for the Omaha Nighthawks in the United Football League (UFL). Maurice also played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes. During his first year, he helped the Buckeyes win a national championship.

Later in his life, Maurice faced some difficult challenges. After these experiences, he became a public speaker. He openly talked about his past struggles and how he worked to improve his life. Maurice also started a health agency in Youngstown, Ohio. In February 2022, he joined the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber of Commerce Board.

Football Career Highlights

High School Achievements

Maurice Clarett first showed his amazing skills as a tailback at Austintown-Fitch High School. He then moved to Warren G. Harding High School. There, he became known across the country. When he finished high school, many national sports groups ranked him among the top 100 players.

In 2002, Maurice was named a U.S. Army All-American. He chose to play for Ohio State University. He had also received offers from other big schools like Notre Dame and the University of Miami. Ohio State's coach, Jim Tressel, had coached in Maurice's hometown before. Maurice also earned the USA Today Offensive High School Player of the Year award. He was also named a Parade All-American.

College Success at Ohio State

Maurice Clarett began playing for Ohio State in the 2002-2003 season. He ran for 1,237 yards, which was a record for a freshman at the time. He also scored 18 touchdowns. These efforts helped the Buckeyes achieve a perfect 14–0 record. They won the 2002 BCS National Championship.

In the 2003 Fiesta Bowl, Maurice scored the winning touchdown. It was a five-yard run in the second overtime against Miami. He also made a big defensive play in that game. He took the ball from Miami's safety Sean Taylor. After this play, Ohio State kicked a field goal. Maurice was the first freshman to be the top rusher on a national championship team since 1995.

Challenges at Ohio State

Maurice Clarett's time at Ohio State University also included some difficult moments. During the 2002 season, he was seen arguing with his coach. In December 2002, he spoke out about university officials. He felt they did not help him fly home for a friend's funeral.

In July 2003, Maurice faced questions about his schoolwork. An investigation looked into claims that he received special treatment. However, there was not enough proof of any wrongdoing. On September 10, 2003, he was suspended for the entire 2003 season.

After leaving Ohio State, Maurice moved to Los Angeles. He tried to join the 2004 NFL Draft early. He won his case in court at first. But a higher court later changed that decision. Maurice then trained hard for the 2005 NFL Combine. He hoped to impress teams for the upcoming draft.

National Football League Journey

Maurice Clarett tried to enter the 2004 NFL draft early. He challenged the NFL's rule that players must wait three years after high school. A judge first said the NFL could not stop him. But this decision was later changed by a higher court. The Supreme Court then refused to hear his appeal. So, Maurice and another player, Mike Williams, were not allowed in the 2004 draft.

In February 2005, Maurice took part in the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.72 and 4.82 seconds. This was slower than expected. He then decided not to do any more drills. Sports reporters called him "Slow-Mo" and were critical of his performance.

Ohio State did not allow him to have a special workout for pro scouts. They wanted to avoid a "circus" situation.

2005 NFL Draft Pick

In a surprising move, the Denver Broncos drafted Maurice Clarett in the 2005 NFL draft. He was the last pick of the third round, 101st overall. Many experts thought he would be picked much later, or not at all.

Maurice joined the Broncos' training camp. He had not played a game in two years. He weighed 248 pounds, which was more than 20 pounds overweight. He also took a long time to recover from an injury.

On July 28, 2005, Maurice signed a four-year contract with the Broncos. He gave up some guaranteed money for a deal that would pay him more if he played very well. He hoped to earn a lot if he rushed for 1,000 yards in multiple seasons.

However, Maurice continued to have difficulties. He also had some issues with his coaches. He never played in a preseason game. On August 28, 2005, just one month after signing his contract, the Broncos released him. No other team showed interest in signing him.

After the NFL Draft

After his college and NFL careers faced setbacks, Maurice Clarett had financial challenges. He had legal fees from his efforts to join the NFL draft early. He had also turned down a traditional signing bonus from Denver. His lawyer wanted a deal that would pay him more if he became a star player.

Exploring Other Football Options

In December 2005, Maurice talked about playing for the Steubenville Stampede. This was a team in the American Indoor Football League. The team manager said Maurice was "hungry" and wanted to prove himself. However, Maurice never signed with the Stampede.

He also showed interest in playing for NFL Europe. His agent said he was expected to join the NFL and be sent to NFL Europe. There were also talks about him playing for the semi-pro Eastern Indoor Football League team, the Mahoning Valley Hitmen.

On August 23, 2010, Maurice was released from a halfway house. He asked for permission to try out for the Omaha Nighthawks of the United Football League. He needed court permission to leave Ohio. His request was approved on August 25.

Omaha Nighthawks Experience

On August 30, 2010, the Omaha Nighthawks signed Maurice Clarett. On October 1, 2010, he played his first important game in eight years. He ran for 12 yards on 5 attempts. He was the Nighthawks' second-string running back.

Maurice finished the season with 154 rushing yards on 37 attempts. He also scored one touchdown. He caught 12 passes for 98 yards. He also returned one kickoff for 13 yards. The UFL stopped playing games in 2012.

Rugby Career

Tiger Rugby Tryout

On May 17, 2013, it was announced that Maurice Clarett would try rugby. He was set to play for the Columbus team of Tiger Rugby. His debut was planned for The Ohio Rugby Sevens Invitational on May 25, 2013. However, he did not play with the team. Their practice schedule did not fit with his own.

Overcoming Challenges and Giving Back

Maurice Clarett faced some significant challenges in his life. These experiences led him to a period of time away from his usual life.

During this time, Maurice focused on improving himself. He read many books about psychology and business. He worked hard to turn his life around. By sharing his personal story, he became a popular motivational speaker.

In November 2012, Maurice was invited back to Ohio State. He celebrated the 10-year anniversary of the 2002 championship season.

Maurice has also spoken about mental health. In August 2013, he joined others to support expanding health care in Ohio. He has spoken at different facilities and worked with youth football camps. He shares his story to help others avoid similar difficulties. Maurice has also reconnected with Ohio State. He has taken classes and worked out with current football players.

In December 2013, he was featured in "Youngstown Boys." This was an ESPN 30 for 30 documentary. It included many interviews with his family and friends.

In February 2014, he returned to Ohio State University for a ceremony. It honored the National Championship team he played on. He also spoke to about 500 people. He talked about his past troubles and his ongoing journey to improve his life.

In 2019, he started working as a consultant for the University of Connecticut's Men's Basketball Program. Maurice spent a few days each month mentoring the players. He worked with the team during their back-to-back National Championship wins.

For the 2024-2025 college football season, Maurice Clarett returned to Ohio State. This time, he is a part-time mentor for their football program. He worked with the team during their National Championship season.

Business and Community Work

In 2016, Maurice Clarett started The Red Zone. This is a health agency in Youngstown, Ohio. The agency offers services for mental health and addiction recovery. It also provides social work in schools and other support. In 2018, a report showed that students who received services from The Red Zone saw their grades improve. Their GPA increased by an average of 16.5%.

In 2021, Maurice worked as a consultant for college sports departments. He helped mentor players and encouraged them to focus on their mental well-being.

In 2022, Maurice Clarett was appointed to the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Advocacy and Public Service

In recent years, Maurice Clarett has spoken publicly about his experiences. He talks about the need for changes in the justice system. He also wrote an article in The Columbus Dispatch on this topic.

During the 2018 Ohio Gubernatorial election, Maurice helped with a political event. It was for Democratic candidate Joe Schiavoni.

He also took part in a campaign event with Governor Mike DeWine. They discussed ways to improve education, job training, and recovery from addiction.

On February 9, 2022, Maurice Clarett was appointed to the board of directors of the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber of Commerce.