OHIO STATE Clarett not an average freshman

His latest magazine cover story is for his performance instead of his talk.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
COLUMBUS -- From the beginning, Maurice Clarett was different.
Other freshmen came to Ohio State's spring workouts and tried to slink around the room, attracting as little attention as possible from the upperclassmen.
Clarett wasn't like that. He wasn't afraid to talk to a senior, didn't avoid challenging a letterman, and he never missed an opportunity to say he didn't come to Ohio State to spend his time waiting.
"The first thing he said to me was, 'We're going to be champions here,' " defensive back Will Allen said, shaking his head.
Early exit, arrival
Clarett had come to Ohio State early, completing his course work ahead of schedule at Warren Harding High. That was part of his plan to take part in the Buckeyes' spring workouts.
Selected as USA Today's national offensive player of the year and Ohio's Mr. Football, his baggage went beyond his clothes and personal effects.
The 6-foot, 230-pound Clarett had a book of gaudy press clippings, a sneer on his face and a chip on his shoulder. He would smile and laugh like every other 18-year-old, but there was always an undercurrent of anger and impatience -- as if he had something to prove right away.
Clarett was sturdy enough mentally and physically to rumble for 1,190 yards and 16 touchdowns, both records for an Ohio State freshman.
Fourth on the depth chart the first day he suited up, Clarett ended up as a difference-maker for the Buckeyes, who have sidestepped a series of close calls and near-misses to go 13-0 and earn a spot in the national championship game at the Fiesta Bowl in Tempe, Ariz., on Jan. 3.
Estimation
"Everyone says he's the best player in college football, minus a few ball games," linebacker Matt Wilhelm said. "I totally believe that."
Clarett did what few freshman running backs have ever done, and he did it despite missing three games -- one because of arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, and two complete games and parts of two others with nerve damage to his left shoulder.
His first year in college has been an education, on the field and off.
In an October cover story in ESPN The Magazine, he was pictured tossing aside his Ohio State jersey and hinting that he would challenge an NFL rule requiring players to stay in college three years before entering the draft.
"Do I think about it?" he said in the article. "It's got to go through your head, man. I'm not saying it's something I will do. I'm not saying it's something I won't do."
Clarett was being mentioned as a Heisman Trophy contender, the Buckeyes were unbeaten and he was stacking up atmospheric rushing numbers -- 175 yards in his debut against Texas Tech, 230 more against No. 10 Washington State -- yet some Ohio State fans turned on him.
He began receiving 35 or 40 pieces of hate mail every few days, with the polite ones calling him disloyal and a traitor. Many probably came from the same people who were chanting, "Mo-reece! Mo-reece!" as he scored 13 touchdowns in his first six games.
Lesson learned
"This is a like a life lesson learned," a chastened Clarett said. "I'm glad it happened now because it gave me an opportunity to learn from what went on, and to be more careful of what I say."
The wins kept coming and the criticism subsided. The shoulder injury ended his chance at the Heisman and stopped his string of five games with more than 100 rushing yards.
The injured Clarett paced the sideline, bending Tressel's ear with plays. In the season finale against rival Michigan, he suggested a pass play that resulted in a 26-yard gain that set up the winning touchdown.
Still favoring the injured shoulder, Clarett finished with 119 yards rushing and a touchdown as the Buckeyes pulled out yet another win, 14-9. He appeared on another magazine cover (Sports Illustrated), but this time it was for his performance instead of his talk.
Clarett had trouble expressing his feelings as he looked back on everything he and the Buckeyes had been through.
"I don't know if I've got a word for it," he said. "I can't describe it. I never got a chance to win a championship in high school. This is the biggest thing next to the Super Bowl. We're going to be playing for a national title."