The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Charles selected 73rd overall by Kansas City Chiefs
04.27.2008 | Football
NEW YORK -- University of Texas RB Jamaal Charles was chosen by the Kansas City Chiefs with the 10th pick of the third round and the 73rd overall pick of the 2008 NFL Draft on Sunday. There have now been at least two Longhorns drafted for eight consecutive years.
"It was a long day yesterday, watching and waiting for my name to hopefully get called," Charles said. "I didn't get much sleep last night when it didn't and was up early today so I was pretty tired when I got picked. I'm glad it happened early. It's a dream come true to hear my name called in the NFL Draft."
Charles becomes the second Longhorn chosen by the Chiefs since 2005 when the Chiefs selected LB Derrick Johnson with the 15th overall pick.
"I'm so happy and blessed to have been picked and to be in Kansas City," Charles said. "I used to watch Priest (Holmes) when he was up there doing great things and I know D.J. (Derrick Johnson) is there now so that's good. They both are guys that always play really hard and make plays so I'm going to be ready to live up to that Longhorn tradition in Kansas City. I'm just ready to step up for the challenge of the NFL."
Charles is also the second Texas running back chosen in the last four years, following Cedric Benson, who was taken by the Chicago Bears with the fourth overall pick in 2005.
"Jamaal is a great kid who has world-class speed," Texas head coach Mack Brown said. "He's a guy that competes. He's a guy that's done it in the classroom and done it on the field, but also he doesn't bring good speed to a pro team, he brings great speed. Other than his class and his character, his speed is what separates him from other people in this class."
In 2007, Charles started all 13 games, was a Doak Walker Award semifinalist and earned unanimous first-team All-Big 12 honors. He was tabbed UT's co-MVP after rushing for 1,619 yards (No. 5 on UT's single-season list) and 18 TDs (No. 8 NCAA/T-No. 5 on UT's single-season list) on 258 carries (6.3 ypc). He finished the year by posting 897 yards and 10 TDs on 116 carries (7.7 ypc) over the final five games. He also caught 17 passes for 199 yards.
"He was so fast in high school, he could outrun people, and he had some of that here as a freshman and sophomore, but last year about mid-season, he found out the quickest way to the goal line was straight ahead," Brown said. "Some of his longer runs were off tackle in a zone play, so we feel like he understands now to keep those shoulder pads down and run tough. He learned a lot and we think he's ready to play in the NFL."
A three-time All-Big 12 selection, Charles ranks fourth on UT's all-time rushing list with 3,328 yards and 36 TDs (T-No. 5 on UT's all-time list) on 533 carries (6.2 ypc). He also notched 49 receptions for 539 yards (11.0 ypc) and three TDs. Charles registered 3,867 tandem yards (No. 6 on UT's all-time list) on 582 plays (6.6 ypp) and 39 TDs (No. 4 on UT's all-time list) and he is the only running back in UT history to post a run of at least 80 yards and a reception of at least 70 yards.
Charles was also a four-time All-American in track and field for the Longhorns. He ran a career-best 10.23-second 100 meters en route to the Big 12 title as a true freshman in 2006.
