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Clarett returns to OSU

By UWeekly Staff

More than seven years after he played his last down as Buckeye, and after a 3 1/2 year stint in prison, Maurice Clarett is now re-enrolled as a student at Ohio State.
"This is a surreal feeling to be back at Ohio State in such a supportive environment," he said in a statement. "I have looked forward to being back in school, and I'm doing my best to fit in with other students. I don't want to be a distraction or nuisance to the football team or to students on campus."

OSU confirmed in a statement that Clarett has been readmitted into the College of Education and Human Ecology, where he was originally enrolled.

It's been a long road back to Columbus for Clarett. After being suspended for his entire sophomore season for falsifying a police report, his attempts to enter the NFL Draft early were unsuccessful. He was eventually taken in the third round of the 2005 draft by the Denver Broncos, but was cut by the team later that fall, amid reports of his odd behavior, such as his teammates' claims that he was drinking Grey Goose vodka from his water bottle at practice.

Things unraveled further from there, as Clarett was accused of robbing a couple with a gun tucked in his waistband in a Columbus alley on New Year's Day 2006. That fall, he was pulled over for driving erratically by Columbus police, who found four loaded weapons in his SUV, including an assault rifle. He would accept a plea deal for 3 1/2 years in prison on robbery and concealed weapon charges. At his sentencing, Clarett apologized and said he would "accept the time that's been given to me."

While in prison, Clarett eventually began a blog called "The Mind of Maurice Clarett," a series of lucid observations on life and his mistakes, which he stopped updating last August.

Clarett, who is now 26 years old, told the court in April that he plans to finish his education and run a fitness center for the elderly. According to reports, he is living in a Franklin County community-based home, a stipulation of his early release.

Originally Published: July 28, 2010

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