Charles leaving UT for draft - Dallas Cowboys Forum

chicago JK · 01-02-2008

Charles leaving school to enter NFL draft

Associated Press

Updated: January 2, 2008, 3:20 PM ET

AUSTIN, Texas -- Texas junior running back Jamaal Charles, who rushed for 1,619 yards this season, has decided to leave the Longhorns to enter the NFL draft.

Charles joined Ricky Williams, Earl Campbell and Cedric Benson as the only Longhorns to rush for over 1,500 yards in a season. He had 161 yards and two touchdowns in Texas' Holiday Bowl win over Arizona State. The Longhorns finished 10-3.

His biggest game of the season was a career-high 290 yards in a 28-25 win over Nebraska in which he had 216 yards and three long TDs in the fourth quarter.

Texas also announced Wednesday that assistant head coach and co-defensive coordinator Larry Mac Duff, who spent one season on coach Mack Brown's staff, has also decided to leave. Mac Duff joined the Texas staff after spending four seasons with the San Francisco 49ers.
Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

Sam I Am · 01-02-2008

I guess he wants to cash in as quickly as possible considering he rates up there with Cedric Benson.

numnuts23 · 01-02-2008

Well if you want that burner to go with Barber, this is the guy. He's probably the fastest player in college this year. He can flat out fly.

CowboyWay · 01-02-2008

I don't have much to base this on, but the guy doesn't do much for me. Maybe Its the whole Ricky Williams, Cedric Benson thing working against him.

Either way, we take him, or take another back, this is good for us. The more RB's in the pool, the better our chance of getting a good one.

Tra_Col99 · 01-02-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by CowboyWay

I don't have much to base this on, but the guy doesn't do much for me. Maybe Its the whole Ricky Williams, Cedric Benson thing working against him.

Either way, we take him, or take another back, this is good for us. The more RB's in the pool, the better our chance of getting a good one.

Charles inst in the Ricky Williams or Cedric Benson (i.e. bigger, power, every down back). Charles is smaller and much faster.

joseephuss · 01-02-2008

He doesn't remind me of either Williams or Benson. He obviously is not as big as those guys. Just because you go to the same school, doesn't mean you are the same type player.

Ricky Williams was actually a good NFL back. You don't accidentally gain 1800 yards in a season as just a guy. He is just hooked on the dope and does not have the drive to be a full time player. He was never going to live up to the expectations the Saints set by trading away their entire draft to get him. Bad move.

Benson can be a good back, but I never expected him to be great. I was surprised he went as high as he did. It was pretty obvious early on that he was not going to be a great feature back and yet the Bears still decided to let Thomas Jones go. Bad move.

The NFL apparently told Charles he would most likely get drafted on the first day. That was high enough for him to decide to leave school. I see him as a 3rd rounder at best and really a 4th rounder would be about right for him. He can be a good change of pace guy. Someone that can share the workload, but not the primary back.

**ABQCOWBOY** · 01-02-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by joseephuss

He doesn't remind me of either Williams or Benson. He obviously is not as big as those guys. Just because you go to the same school, doesn't mean you are the same type player.

Ricky Williams was actually a good NFL back. You don't accidentally gain 1800 yards in a season as just a guy. He is just hooked on the dope and does not have the drive to be a full time player. He was never going to live up to the expectations the Saints set by trading away their entire draft to get him. Bad move.

Benson can be a good back, but I never expected him to be great. I was surprised he went as high as he did. It was pretty obvious early on that he was not going to be a great feature back and yet the Bears still decided to let Thomas Jones go. Bad move.

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His skills will translate to the NFL more like Metcalf's did IMO. To be honest, I think he can be a real nice third down back and STs guy if he can stay healthy and get a little better at laying the ball down.

theogt · 01-02-2008

Ugh...the UT homers are going to be relentless about this mediocre player.

ThreeSportStar80 · 01-02-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by theogt

Ugh...the UT homers are going to be relentless about this mediocre player.

Exactly... Give me James Mendenhall from Illinois.

silverbear · 01-03-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by chicago JK

Charles leaving school to enter NFL draft

Texas also announced Wednesday that assistant head coach and co-defensive coordinator Larry Mac Duff, who spent one season on coach Mack Brown's staff, has also decided to leave. Mac Duff joined the Texas staff after spending four seasons with the San Francisco 49ers.
Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

Thank you, Jay-sus... Horns fans everywhere are rejoicing, this was the worst Horns defense in some years...

silverbear · 01-03-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by nyc

I guess he wants to cash in as quickly as possible considering he rates up there with Cedric Benson.

The only similarities between Charles and Benson are both went to UT...

Rack Bauer · 01-03-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by silverbear

The only similarities between Charles and Benson are both went to UT...

IMO Benson was a better RB coming out of college and I said back then that he was severely overrated.

Charles is also severely overrated.

silverbear · 01-03-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by theogt

Ugh...the UT homers are going to be relentless about this mediocre player.

Look at you, calling the 4th ranked running back in the Horns' long history (two of those rated ahead of him were Heisman Trophy winners), the Big XII's leading rusher and first team all-conference RB each of the last 2 seasons, "mediocre"... a kid who has rushed for over 3000 yards (3328, to be exact) in 38 games, averaging 6.2 yards per carry for his career, all while playing at the highest levels of NCAA ball... a kid who has scored 39 TDs in those 38 games (36 rushing, 3 receiving)...

It figures you Horns haters would flock to trash the guy...