What Happened To Maurice Clarett? What Did Maurice Clarett Do? Did Maurice Clarett Play In The NFL? Where Is Maurice Clarett Now?
What Happened To Maurice Clarett?
Clarett could have played for any college in the country after a dominant high school career that included being named the USA Today Offensive High School Player of the Year. Unfortunately, Clarett only stayed at Ohio State for one season, but he left an impression. He ran for the most yards as a freshman for the Buckeyes and was instrumental in Ohio State's undefeated season, culminating in a national title game victory.
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Following an academic scandal and allegations that he received thousands of dollars from a family friend, Clarett was suspended for the entire 2003 season. Clarett was also charged with stealing from a rental car and lying to investigators. While suspended after a national title run is terrible enough, Clarett's situation only worsened.
Image source: Twitter
What Did Maurice Clarett Do?
Clarett decided to sue the NFL because of a rule that prohibits players from entering the draft if they have not been out of high school for three years. Clarett won the case, much to the surprise of many people, and was declared eligible for the 2004 NFL Draft. However, Clarett was ruled ineligible after a federal appeal halted the ruling. While Clarett was preparing for the 2005 NFL Draft, more stories about his time at Ohio State began circulating. According to an investigation, Clarett received passing grades, cars, and money from the university. He was charged with aggravated robbery in Columbus.
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To make matters worse, Maurice Clarett declined a $410,000 guaranteed signing bonus in favour of an incentive-based deal that could pay him millions if he performed well. Following his time with the Broncos, Clarett was approached by the Steubenville Stampede of the American Indoor Football League, but a deal was never reached due to legal issues.
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Did Maurice Clarett Play In The NFL?
While some teams thought Clarett would be "undraftable" or a sixth-round pick at best, the Denver Broncos took a chance and drafted him at the end of the third round. Unfortunately, Clarett was waived by Denver before the season even began, so the surprising move did not pay off. A team did not claim him after being placed on the waiver wire, and his career in the NFL was over.
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Clarett had a challenging year following his release from the Broncos. In January 2006, he was accused of robbing two people at gunpoint behind a Columbus bar. He surrendered and was charged with two counts of aggravated robbery with a firearm. He pleaded not guilty to the charges but was arrested for another offence while on trial. Clarett began using drugs and developing a drinking problem during this time.
Where Is Maurice Clarett Now?
After making an illegal U-turn, Clarett was involved in a high-speed chase with police in August of that same year. The chase ended when he drove his car over a spike strip. Clarett resisted arrest to the point where police felt compelled to make him and use a taser on him. Officers discovered two swords, two loaded handguns, an AK-47, and an open bottle of vodka in his vehicle. Clarett was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison, with a three and a-half year possibility of release.
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Clarett began to change his life while in prison. He enrolled in an Ohio University programme to earn a bachelor's degree. He also launched The Mind Of Maurice Clarett, a blog. Clarett read up on psychology and business and wrote on his blog.
Clarett was released after three and a half years, but he was required to enter a halfway house.
Maurice Clarett Today
Clarett's football career was officially over when the UFL ceased operations. However, Clarett's post-football life was going well for the first time. He began to mend fences with Ohio State and was invited back to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Buckeyes' undefeated season in 2002. Clarett enrolled in university courses and even worked out with the football team.
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After suffering from depression Clarett became an advocate for mental illness and began speaking in prisons. He also spent time telling his story at youth football camps because he didn't want others to make the same mistakes he did. Clarett founded The Red Zone, a behavioural health agency, in 2016, and his mother, Michelle, currently serves as president. Clarett is still working with The Red Zone today. He is married with a daughter and a newborn son. He was charged with DUI in 2016, but has remained sober ever since. He goes to therapy on a regular basis and takes medication for his mental illness.
Image source: Twitter
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