Clarett Set to Make History – Ohio State Buckeyes
8/21/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug 21, 2002
By RUSTY MILLER
AP Sports Writer
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – Maurice Clarett shrugs his shoulders when he talks about making history.
Clarett will start in Ohio State’s season opener against Texas Tech in Saturday’s Pigskin Classic, becoming the first true freshman in Buckeyes history to start at tailback in his first game.
It’s something luminaries Archie Griffin, Robert Smith and Eddie George never did.
As impressive as that accomplishment is, Clarett (pronounced cluh-REHT’) is unmoved.
“There’s some satisfaction, but the trip is not over,” Clarett said. “It’s a long ride. I’ve got a long career here.”
It has not taken long for Clarett to have an impact on the Ohio State program.
Last fall, the 6-foot, 230-pound Clarett was selected as the Ohio Associated Press Mr. Football and USA Today’s national offensive player of the year after rushing for 2,194 yards and 38 touchdowns at Harding High School in Warren.
He graduated from high school in December and enrolled at Ohio State for the winter quarter so he could go through spring workouts.
“I’m not really an advocate of guys graduating from high school early and missing their senior year and missing their high school all-star games and all that,” coach Jim Tressel said. “It happened to be the best thing for Maurice, which is good. I think it helped him adjust. I think he knew he needed a little more time to adjust.”
Despite a thumb injury that required a splint, padding and lots of tape – and having to learn an entirely new offense – Clarett seemed to fit in with the veterans from the first day.
“I think he’s demonstrated to all of us, whether it’s the coaches or his teammates, that he’s a guy who’s going to be there,” Tressel said. “He’s a physical guy. I didn’t see him miss a snap in practice in the whole preseason. As of this moment, Maurice Clarett has earned the right to start here at Ohio State.”
With all of his awards and newspaper clippings, it would be understandable if it took a while for Ohio State’s upperclassmen to accept Clarett.
“At first, people really didn’t know what to expect of him just because he was coming in early and all that,” tailback Maurice Hall said. “But he’s a real hard worker and he’s a very good player. A lot of respect came to him from a lot of the players just because of how hard he works and how much he wants to help this team.”
Clarett may be the starter, but he knows he will be sharing the job. He beat out sophomores Lydell Ross and Hall – backups to starter Jonathan Wells a year ago – but all three will share the position.
“You never know,” Tressel said with a grin. “It might be the Wishbone. It might be all three of them.”
For now, it’s Clarett’s chance to make history and start.
“That doesn’t mean too much,” he said. “The only thing that really means much to me now is winning games.”
