Maurice Jones-Drew

This compactly built athlete established himself as one of the most productive and dangerous all-purpose backs in the collegiate ranks. He not only led the team in rushing during each of his three years on the squad, but also showed good pass catching ability and big playmaking skills as both a punt and kickoff returner. He holds the school's all-purpose yardage career-record and is the only player in Bruins annals to score five touchdowns in a game, accomplishing that feat twice. Maurice lettered three times in football at De La Salle High School. He was a Parade, Prep Star and Super Prep All-American selection who was also a member of the Super Prep Elite 50 team, in addition to earning that publication's FarWest Offensive Player of the Year honors. He added All-West accolades from Tom Lemming's Prep Football Report and was a Max Emfinger six-star selection as all-purpose back. He earned Tacoma News Tribune Western 100, first-team All-State by, State Running Back of the Year (CalHiSports.com) and Long Beach Press-Telegram Best in the West honorable mention recognition. He was a member of a team that extended the school's game winning streak to 138 games. Maurice gained 1,457 yards rushing, averaging 11.9 yards per attempt, and had 26 total touchdowns in twelve games as a senior. In 2001, he was selected to the CalHiSports.com All-State Junior team after rushing for 736 yards on just 59 carries. He was also a four-year member of the track team, where he competed as a sprinter. As a true freshman at UCLA, Drew was named Freshman All-American third-team by The Sporting News, adding All-Pac 10 Conference honorable mention as a returner by the league's coaches. He ranked 14th in the nation with a 26.6-yard average on 20 kickoff returns, gaining 533 yards with two scores. Despite starting only two games, he became the first freshman since DeShaun Foster in 1998 to lead the team in rushing, totaling 582 yards with five touchdowns on 135 attempts (4.3 avg). He also grabbed 15 passes for 104 yards and generated 1,219 all-purpose yards. An ankle sprain vs. Washington State in 2004 hampered Drew's performance the second half of 2004, but he again led the team with a career-high 1,007 yards and eight touch-downs on 160 rushing attempts (6.3 avg). He snared 18 passes for 262 yards (14.6 avg) and three scores and returned ten punts for 152 yards, including a touchdown. He also piled up 185 yards on seven kickoff returns (26.4 avg) and also completed a 47-yard pass. Maurice finished the season ranked 14th in the nation with 1,606 all-purpose yards. He averaged 8.19 yards every time he touched the ball and became the first player in school to score five times in a game (vs. Washington), despite playing in that contest with calf cramps. In 2005, Drew was a consensus All-American choice as an all-purpose back. He set an NCAA season-record, as he averaged 28.5 yards on fifteen punts returns, good for 427 yards and three touchdowns. He led the team in rushing for the third consecutive year (fifth player in school history to lead the team in three seasons), collecting 914 yards with thirteen touchdowns on 186 carries (4.9 avg). He finished fourth on the team with 31 catches for 453 yards (14.6 avg) and four scores. Maurice ranked eighth in the nation in scoring with 120 points. He gained 69 additional yards on five kickoff returns and his average of 155.25 all-purpose yards per game ranked 13th in the NCAA Division 1-A ranks. In 36 games with the Bruins, Maurice started 22 times. He carried 481 times for 2,503 yards (5.2 avg) and 26 touchdowns, the ninth-best career rushing yardage total in school history. He added 64 receptions for 819 yards (12.8 avg) and seven scores and ranks ninth on the school's all-time record list in scoring with 234 points. His 23.2-yard average on 25 punts shattered UCLA's career-record, adding four touchdowns on those returns. He also had 32 kickoff returns for 787 yards (24.6 avg) and two scores. He finished his career with 4,688 all-purpose yards, a school all-time record. Drew decided to pass up his senior season to enter the 2006 NFL Draft, saying his decision to turn pro was to honor the wish of his late grandfather, who had a heart attack in the stands at the Rose Bowl during a UCLA game vs. Rice on September 10th, 2005 and died shortly afterward. Drew lived with his grandparents, Maurice and Christina Jones, in Pinole, California, near San Francisco, for much of his youth. His grandfather was 69 when he died. "That was something he (grandfather) and I had talked about earlier. I wasn't worried about it, wanted to make sure this season went well," Drew said. "My grandmother told me after the USC game [December 3rd] that he had told her that he wanted me to go to the NFL. I'd do anything he wanted." "Maurice has made the decision that he feels is best for himself and his family," UCLA head coach Karl Dorrell said in a statement. "While I would counsel players to enjoy the college experience and earn a degree, I am supportive of his decision to move onto the next stage of his life. Maurice is a great young man and he has been a joy to coach for the last three years. He has been a key component in the rebuilding of this program."

despite his size, drew is capable of picking, sliding and accelerating through the crease. he has good balance and body lean, doing a nice job of continuing to move forward after initial contact. he has the quickness to bounce out to the perimeter and will lower his pads properly to get through traffic. when he sees a tight space to squeeze through, he will not hesitate to attack that hole. he knows he does not have the size or ideal strength to move the pile, but will lower his pads to protect himself (still struggles with inside runs, though).

When he reaches the corner as an outside runner, he can change the angle and has the quick lateral moves and second gear to win long foot races. He reads and anticipates well, showing good fakes and hip wiggle to elude. His foot quickness allows him to pick and slide to avoid. He can spin and maintain balance trying to break free and is quick to plant and drive when trying to change direction.

drew is an undersized back, but has good strength and overall muscle development. he runs with a normal stride and shows quick acceleration and body control to readily adjust and redirect when the rush lanes are clogged. he has above average balance, flexibility and agility, demonstrating a sudden burst in attempts to reach his top speed.

Because of his low center of gravity and quickness, he can gain advantage with his sudden movements and has the agility to avoid inside trash because of the explosion he generates. He has a natural feel through traffic and the vision to avoid low tackles in attempts to find the seam. He does a good job of locating and using his down field blockers and runs with good awareness. Ball security problems arise, as he sometimes carries the ball too loose, with most of his fumbles coming when the defender attacks the ball.

in 2005, he showed marked improvement as a route runner, as his change of direction agility allowed him to create separation. he still needs to adjust in his pattern when trying to find the soft spot in space, but has the flexibility to cut. drew has a good feel for running short patterns, but must show better consistency and ease of movement catching away from his frame.

As a blocker, his size negates most of his ability to face up and sustain at the line of scrimmage. He will aggressively attack the defender, but because of his size, he is quite limited. As a cut blocker, he has the speed to locate linebackers, but needs to sustain his blocks longer.

2004: Suffered with calf cramps vs. Washington (9/18)...Left the Washington State game (11/06) in the first quarter with a sprained right ankle, sitting out the entire Oregon contest (11/13) and seeing limited action vs. Southern California (12/04). 2005: Missed most of the first half of the Sun Bowl vs. Northwestern (12/30) with a left shoulder contusion that relegated him to return duties in the second half.

Attended De La Salle (Concord, Cal.) High School, playing football for head coach Bob Ladouceur

Lettered three times in football

Parade, Prep Star and Super Prep All-American selection who was also a member of the Super Prep Elite 50 team, in addition to earning that publication's FarWest Offensive Player of the Year honors

Added All-West accolades from Tom Lemming's Prep Football Report and was a Max Emfinger six-star selection as all-purpose back

Earned Tacoma News Tribune Western 100, first-team All-State by, State Running Back of the Year (CalHiSports.com) and Long Beach Press-Telegram Best in the West honorable mention recognition

Member of a team that extended the school's game winning streak to 138 games

Gained 1,457 yards rushing, averaging 11.9 yards per attempt, and had 26 total touchdowns in twelve games as a senior

In 2001, he was selected to the CalHiSports.com All-State Junior team after rushing for 736 yards on just 59 carries

Four-year member of the track team, where he competed as a sprinter.

Undeclared major

Son of Andrea and Dana Drew

Raised by his grandparents, Christina Jones and the late Maurice Jones (Maurice died from a heart attack while attending UCLA's 2005 game vs. Rice)

Born 3/23/85

Resides in Antioch, California.