Longhorn Player Profiles: Charles in Charge
This is the second in our Longhorn player profile series, leading up to the season-opening game on Sept. 1.
For his first two years at Texas, Jamaal Charles has been a two-sport star in football and track. But this year, Charles decided to skip the outdoor track season to better prepare for the demands of carrying the pigskin this fall.
He turned to backup running back Chris Ogbonnaya for help. They proposed an agreement: Ogbonnaya, a strong, punishing runner, would help Charles through weightlifting sessions to get stronger; Charles, the speedster, would help Ogbonnaya with track drills to get faster.
The Longhorns will soon find out whether they also benefit from their running backs' pact. Charles will be the featured back in the UT offense in 2007, with Ogbonnaya as his main backup.
Charles made an splash in his first game at Texas. As a freshman on the 2005 national championship team, he set the UT rushing record for a debut game, with 135 yards against Louisiana-Lafayette. He finished with 878 yards on the ground and scored 13 total touchdowns, tying the school's freshman record. Three of those scores came in the Big 12 Championship game, while another was an 80-yard scamper against Oklahoma.
His touchdown numbers were slightly down last season, although it certainly wasn't a sophomore slump. He led the team in rushing with 831 yards and seven scores, and added another 183 yards and one touchdown receiving. He also retained his knack for the big play, scoring on a 72-yard pass play reception in the Alamo Bowl.
Now, as a junior, the 6-foot-1 Charles has added 10 pounds of muscle and coaches say he's ready to step into the role as the main man in Texas' running attack.
"It is a way different feeling knowing that I'm going to be the guy back there starting," Charles said. "I know I have to work hard because everybody is going to be there depending on me to carry the rock every play. I have to be a leader now and lead the other running backs. I tell coach to leave me in during practice so I can get used to the game. I want to play hard during practice so I can be ready for the games."
To be successful, Charles will rely on an offensive line that lost senior leaders Justin Blalock, Kasey Studdard, and Lyle Sendlein from last year's group. Coaches would also like to see him cut down on his fumbles (five in 2005, four in 2004).
"I think that Jamaal was disappointed in his season last year," offensive coordinator Greg Davis said. "It was a little inconsistent which is not uncommon for sophomores. Most sophomore backs for whatever reason start having the tendency to look for the big play. He did that some and because of it he wasn't as consistent. He's put on some weight and he understands that he's the guy. Jamaal needs to have a really good year for us to be really good and I think that he will."
JAMAAL CHARLES SAYS:
Nickname: J-Mall
I can't live without: God and family
Favorite movie: Ray
Favorite actor: Jamie Foxx
Favorite actress: Halle Berry
Nobody knows how much I like to: Eat and talk on the phone
Favorite TV show: Girlfriends
After my football career is over, I hope to: Get married and start a business
Favorite music groups: G-Unit, Omarion
My dream as a college football player is to: Get a degree and play pro football
I came to Texas because: The excellent academic and football programs
Photo of Jamaal Charles reprinted under fair use guidelines from Scout.com. "Jamaal Charles Says" info and quotes from the UT Team Media Guide and press releases.
