Well it's been rumored about for weeks but today the University of Texas released a statement that junior running back Jamaal Charles will be leaving school early and entering the NFL draft. Charles had a tremendous year and I for one will be sad to see him go. Jamaal ended the season with 1,619 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns and currently ranks fourth in career rushing yards at the University of Texas behind only Heisman Trophy winners Earl Campbell and Ricky Williams and Doak Walker award winner Cedric Benson. (
link) Who knows what records and accolades would have come Charles’ way if only he had decided to return to Austin for his senior season.
You really can’t blame Charles for leaving, the Longhorns have continually underutilized him and never once did the Horns’ coaching staff attempt to focus our offensive game plan around his unique rushing skills. And yet game after game this year there was Jamaal, willing to give his all and pull the Longhorns out of the fire in the fourth quarter of games. Just look at the Nebraska game where he had an astounding 216 yards and three TDs in the fourth quarter alone. (
link) It is only appropriate that Charles leave school after another great performance against Arizona State in the 2007 Holiday Bowl. With 161 yards and two touchdowns in his final college game, cementing a seventh straight 10 win season for Texas, #25 can leave his college football career behind with his head held high and the knowledge that the fumbles that plagued his career a distant memory in the minds and hearts of Texas fans everywhere.
What’s really amazing about Charles leaving early for the NFL is that in the 10 years since Mack Brown took over as head coach of the Texas Longhorns, Charles and quarterback Vince Young are the only two players to ever leave the program early for the NFL. (
link) That is really an incredible statistic for college athletics in this day and age, especially for a major football program like Texas. I don’t know what Mack says to these young men but Texas fans have definitely be spoiled to not have to worry about losing their star players early for the NFL and the riches it offers. We in the Longhorn Nation can only hope this does not start a trend of student-athletes leaving early for the draft. As always, only time will tell.
Well it's been rumored about for weeks but today the University of Texas released a statement that junior running back Jamaal Charles will be leaving school early and entering the NFL draft. Charles had a tremendous year and I for one will be sad to see him go. Jamaal ended the season with 1,619 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns and currently ranks fourth in career rushing yards at the University of Texas behind only Heisman Trophy winners Earl Campbell and Ricky Williams and Doak Walker award winner Cedric Benson. (link) Who knows what records and accolades would have come Charles’ way if only he had decided to return to Austin for his senior season.
You really can’t blame Charles for leaving, the Longhorns have continually underutilized him and never once did the Horns’ coaching staff attempt to focus our offensive game plan around his unique rushing skills. And yet game after game this year there was Jamaal, willing to give his all and pull the Longhorns out of the fire in the fourth quarter of games. Just look at the Nebraska game where he had an astounding 216 yards and three TDs in the fourth quarter alone. (link) It is only appropriate that Charles leave school after another great performance against Arizona State in the 2007 Holiday Bowl. With 161 yards and two touchdowns in his final college game, cementing a seventh straight 10 win season for Texas, #25 can leave his college football career behind with his head held high and the knowledge that the fumbles that plagued his career a distant memory in the minds and hearts of Texas fans everywhere.
What’s really amazing about Charles leaving early for the NFL is that in the 10 years since Mack Brown took over as head coach of the Texas Longhorns, Charles and quarterback Vince Young are the only two players to ever leave the program early for the NFL. (link) That is really an incredible statistic for college athletics in this day and age, especially for a major football program like Texas. I don’t know what Mack says to these young men but Texas fans have definitely be spoiled to not have to worry about losing their star players early for the NFL and the riches it offers. We in the Longhorn Nation can only hope this does not start a trend of student-athletes leaving early for the draft. As always, only time will tell.
