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 NCAA Scouting – Player Profile:
Jamaal Charles, RB
by Paul Hopkins
24/2/2008
Jamaal Charles is widely seen as one of the quickest running backs coming into this year’s draft. Following his decision not to return to Texas for his senior season, the Diner is looking at the speedster’s stock for the forthcoming Combine and draft in April.
 Charles is a fantastic athlete, who has excelled at both football and athletics, both of which were evident from his high-school career. In his junior year at Memorial High School (Port Arthur, Texas), Charles ran for 2,051 yards and 25 touchdowns and was named first team all-state by the Texas Sports Writers Association and second team all-state by the Associated Press. This was virtually replicated in his senior year, with Jamaal rushing for 2,056 yards and again, 25 touchdowns.
In July 2003, Charles also won the bronze medal in the 400m hurdles in the World Youth Championships. This achievement sits alongside his victories in the Texas state championships in the 110m and 300m hurdles.
Charles burst onto the scene in his freshman year, rushing 119 times for 878 yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging 7.4 yards per carry and provided a change of pace back in the Longhorns National Championship year.
After a somewhat disappointing sophomore campaign that was blighted by injury, he returned to the forefront of scout’s minds with his performances in 2007. Charles rushed for over 1,400 yards, at an average of over 6 yards per rush. Most notably he ran for 290 yards against Nebraska in October with a staggering 216 of those yards coming in the final quarter. This became a hallmark of his campaign, with many yards coming late in the game. This ability to be a game breaker into the 4th quarter will have attracted many scouts to Charles’ obvious athletic ability.
What we like about Charles
Charles has unbelievable speed and will be one of the quickest rushers in this year’s draft. He has an exceptional initial burst and his ability to cut makes him almost impossible to tackle at times, and able to manoeuvre out of some impractical angles. At 6 foot 1 inch, Jamaal also has enough size to be able to cope with the National Football League.
Charles is not averse to physical contact and is not afraid to drop his shoulder and lay a hit on defensive players. But obviously, his speed is his biggest attribute. He also offers great potential to a team through special teams returns.
 Question marks over Charles
Charles is prone to fumble on occasion and also needs to work on his catching, and these handling issues will be one that shall be scrutinised prior to the draft. Despite his 4th quarter statistics in the NCAA, questions would need to be asked over his ability to carry to load in the NFL. Pass blocking could also prove problematic for Charles. And, as with all players entering the draft, interviews and the ability to learn will prove critical.
Highlight of his college career
On October 28th 2007, with the Longhorns struggling against Nebraska, Charles rushed for 216 yards and two touchdowns, giving him a total of 290 yards on the day. This was the highest ever total rushing given up by the Cornhuskers, and the fourth highest in the history of the Texas Longhorns. His 216 yards in the fourth quarter were just six shy of the NCAA record for a single quarter, a mark held by Corey Dillon in 1996.
 Other snippets of information
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Charles completed his first collegiate track season as a four-time All-American (60m indoor, 100m outdoor, 200m outdoor, 4x100m relay outdoor).
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With 3,328 yards, Charles ranks fourth in the list of total rushing yards at Texas, behind Ricky Williams, Cedric Benson and Earl Campbell.
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NFL running backs you can compare him to are Willie Parker and Jerious Norwood.
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Possible good fits: Dallas, Chicago, Tampa Bay.
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