Texas RB Charles to enter NFL draft

From NCAA College Football Information & Resource

January 3, 2008

Big 12 leading rusher Jamaal Charles is set to turn pro.

Texas running back Jamaal Charles will be skipping his final year of college football eligibility to enter the 2008 NFL draft.

Charles, who has amassed 1,619 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns this season, declared his intentions to turn pro Wednesday, making the announcement through a statement released by the school. Sources said that Charles received an evaluation from an NFL committee that indicated the junior running back's chances of landing in the first two rounds of the draft.

"I can't thank coach Brown, coach Rucker, everyone at UT and all of the fans enough," Charles, a Port Arthur, Texas native, said. "They gave me a great opportunity and supported me so much. UT is a wonderful place and everyone has been good to me, but playing in the NFL has always been my dream and when the NFL report came back, I was happy with the grade and felt like it was best for me to enter the draft."

The 6-foot-1, 205 lb. Charles leads the league in rushing and has made the leap to no.4 in the school's career rushing list with 3,328 yards, right behind Ricky Williams, Cedric Benson and Earl Campbell. He is also no.5 all-time in rushing TDs with 36 and no.4 in total TDs with 39.

A Big 12 Freshman of the Year awardee, Charles is also a perennial All-league selection as he has appeared on the Big 12's list thrice in his career. He is also a four-time All-American in track and field for UT, placing fifth in the 100 meters at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships as a freshman in 2006.

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