25 biggest villains in college football history
By Brad Weiss
Maurice Clarett
Running Back, Ohio State
For a career that started with such promise at Ohio State University, Maurice Clarett left school as one of the more controversial players in the history of the program. Bursting onto the scene as the best freshman running back in the country, Clarett led his Buckeyes teammates to a national title, putting the finishing touches on Ohio State’s 2003 Fiesta Bowl victory with a game-winning touchdown. Incredibly, that would be the last touchdown he would score for the Buckeyes.
As a freshman, Clarett rushed for over 1,200 yards for Ohio State, scoring 18 touchdowns as the team went a perfect 14-0. Everyone in Columbus must have felt that this was just the beginning, as Clarett had to stay on campus for at least three years. Well, that never happened, as the team suspended him for the 2003 season for filing a false police report. Clarett left school, and sued to be included in the 2004 NFL Draft, but would have to wait until the following year to enter.
Eventually, Clarett was drafted by an NFL team, the Denver Broncos took him in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He would not tote the rock at the pro level, however, as he was cut during training camp. For someone who looked good as a freshman, leading his team to a national title, to never have a single carry in the NFL is nearly impossible to believe. But Clarett achieved just that, and will forever be a villain in the eyes of Buckeyes fans for it.
Aside from filing the false police report, Clarett also had his run-ins with the coaching staff at Ohio State. He publicly attacked them, screamed at position coaches on the sidelines. Since leaving the NFL, Clarett has been arrested multiple times, including an OVI arrest in January of last year, when it appeared he had gotten his life on the right path.