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Charles has an early offer
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Jeff Tarpley


Port Arthur Memorial’s Jamaal Charles is the latest high school RB to get an offer from Texas A&M.

The interesting thing, however, is that Charles just finished his junior year in high school.

Charles was named the Beaumont Enterprise Super Gold Player of the Year after rushing for 2,044 yards and 23 touchdowns on 275 carries (7.4 yards per carry) in 13 games. The physical attributes are all there for a player with his stats: 6 feet tall, 190 pounds, 4.4 speed in the forty, and a vertical leap of 30 inches

And even those stats don‘t do certain aspects of his game justice – like his speed, for example.

“I made the US Junior Olympic Team this year” he said. “We were first in the medley relay and 3rd in the 400 meter relay. We set the national record in the 4 x 200 meters at Memorial.”

And as far as intangibles…

“Vision, feet…I’ve got everything” he said.

Heart too.

“We were down 34-7 at the half to Aldine” he said. “I had 3 TDs and 175 yards in the third quarter and finished with 286 and four TDs” as Charles led the charge in 41-40 win in the first round of the playoffs.

And even bloodlines…

“I have three relatives that have gotten track scholarships, one plays basketball at LSU, and my stepbrother ShanDerrick (Charles, SMU running back).

And speaking of that offer…

“Texas A&M was the first to offer” said Charles. “I didn’t have any inkling that an offer was coming. It made me happy to know people been watching me.”

So the Aggies aren’t the only ones to notice Charles…

“I’ve been getting letters and people are writing for track too” he said. “A&M, Bama, Arkansas, OU, Nebraska, TCU, Iowa, UCLA, and LSU are writing for football. A&M is writing me a lot and Iowa is too.”

“LSU, A&M, Duke, Army, Tennessee, and Baylor are writing for track. My coach told me Arkansas would be sending me a package in the mail next week for football and Baylor’s offered in track.”

Okay, so what are you looking for in school?

“Learning facilities, a place where I could fit in, someplace that has my major (sports medicine). I want to run track too. I would like to be a coach after I graduate.”

So who do you like?

“I like OU, A&M, Iowa, Alabama, and Nebraska” he replied.

“OU-I have a cousin (not an athlete) that goes there. They get a lot of people at their games and they sold out every game this year. They’re a good team.”

“Someone from Port Arthur coaches at Iowa and knows my family. He used to coach my brother at Port Arthur Lincoln. I’ve run track at Nebraska and they have a good football team. My coach said one of Alabama’s coaches saw me and liked the way I played and it’s always good to hear that.”

But early on, one school stands out.

“I like A&M more than anybody else right now. They write me the most and I like A&M’s approach to recruiting me.”

“I went to a game at A&M and met the coaches - the head coach, the running backs coach, the wide receiver’s coach. They talked to me, showed me the facilities, and showed me if I come in that I can play.”

won't find that sports medicine program at SMU. Once again, advantage public schools.