Maurice Clarett

Running back Maurice Clarett played college football with the Ohio State Buckeyes. Clarett was imprisoned in 2006, serving a seven-and-a-half year term on charges of aggravated robbery after being convicted of carrying a concealed weapon without a permit and resisting arrest.ESPN.com: Clarett Agrees to Plea Deal, Will Serve 3 1/2 Years In April of 2010, Clarett was granted an early release from prison - provided he participate in a community control program in Columbus, Ohio. Clarett was expected to live in a halfway house for several months after his release. All total, Clarett served more than 3 1/2 years behind bars.http://www.10tv.com/live/content/local/stories/2010/04/07/story-ohio-state-maurice-clarett-release.html

In July of 2010, reports surfaced that Clarett had been granted permission to once again resume studies at Ohio State. School officials would only say that Clarett was "granted reentry" after a "review." Clarett was expected to begin taking classes at Ohio State over the summer.http://www.10tv.com/live/content/sports/stories/2010/07/26/story-columbus-maurice-clarett-reentry-ohio-state.html?sid=102

On August 26, 2010, the Associated Press reported the Clarett received clearance to leave Ohio in order to attend training for the UFL's Omaha Nighthawks. Reports also specify that Clarett would not be able to sign with the Omaha Nighthawks until the team proved that it had a support system prepared and in place for the previously troubled player.http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/13807321/clarett-seeks-permission-to-travel-for-tryout-with-ufl-team

Clarett signed with the Nighthawks in the United Football League on August 30, 2010. His initial contract is for one year, but the amount of his salary has not been released. Once Clarett takes the field with the Nighthawks, he will be playing for the first time since his performance in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl with the Ohio State Buckeyes.http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/08/30/ufls-nighthawks-sign-maurice-clarett/?loc=interstitialskip Rick Mueller, the general manager of the team, said that Clarett and team officials met and received approval from the UFL commissioner.http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5512588

On January 1, 2006, Clarett was arrested for allegedly robbing two people at gunpoint behind a Columbus, Ohio, bar.USA Today: Ex-Ohio State Star Clarett Accused of Robbing Two People He was arrested again on August 9, 2006, after leading police on a chase around the Columbus area. Police found several loaded weapons in the vehicle, as well as an open bottle of vodka. He was charged with carrying a concealed weapon without a permit and failure to maintain current lane, but later accepted a plea agreement to serve a sentence of seven-and-a-half years for both arrests.ESPN.com: Clarett Agrees to Plea Deal, Will Serve 3 1/2 Years

Clarett played one season of college football with the Ohio State Buckeyes in 2002. He recorded 222 carries for 1,237 yards and 16 touchdowns to help the Buckeyes win the BCS Championship. In 2003, Clarett was suspended for the entire season after filing a false police report stating he had been robbed of more than $10,000 in personal items. He petitioned to be eligible for the 2004 NFL draft, in an attempt to bypass the three-year waiting period after an athlete graduates high school. The case went all the way up to The U.S. Supreme Court, but in the end, the National Football League denied his entry.USA Today: Ex-Ohio State Star Clarett Accused of Robbing Two People

In the 2005 NFL draft, Clarett was selected 101st overall by the Denver Broncos. He played with the Broncos' practice squad only, then was released before the season.ESPN.com: Broncos to release Maurice Clarett As of 2010, Clarett has not played football since.

In October of 2008, Clarett began blogging from the Toledo Correctional Institution, where he was incarcerated. He used the blog, "The Mind of Maurice Clarett," to reflect on his actions and advise others not to follow his path.USA Today: Maurice Clarett making positive steps (March 3, 2009) http://mauriceclarett.wordpress.com/