Chris Ogbonnaya, RB

One of the better stories in college football, Ogbonnaya finally got his chance to shine after Jamaal Charles declared for the 2008 draft. He entered his senior season having carried the ball only 66 times in three years and switching from tailback to receiver and back multiple times.

In Texas' Colt McCoy-driven offense (the quarterback was the leading passer and rusher), Ogbonnaya only managed 73 rushes for 373 yards and four scores n 2008, but his 46 catches for 540 yards and three touchdowns also caught scouts' eyes. His play on coverage units also makes him a draftable prospect.

Positives: Passes the eyeball test. Patient, one-cut runner who can attack the hole when it is there. Some wiggle in open space for a big back. Will lower his shoulder and bowl over the unsuspecting defender. Rare hands and experience as a route-runner due to his time at wide receiver. Physical blocker. Packs a pop and gives good effort to sustain. High effort player. Good locker room presence.

Negatives: Bit of a 'tweener. Lacks the bulk for fullback, the all-around skills to be more than a secondary running back and the straight-line speed to move back to wide receiver. Isn't a nimble back who can consistently make something out of nothing. Has to take a few steps to generate his power. Runs a bit upright, leaving him prone to big hits and limiting his own power. Marginal speed to get to the second level. Can be caught from behind.

Appeared in all 13 games, starting seven, at tailback and on special teams … tabbed second-team Academic All-America by ESPN The Magazine … a Draddy Trophy (Academic Heisman) semifinalist … a first-team Academic All-Big 12 selection … earned honorable mention All-Big 12 honors from the league's coaches … tallied 74 rushes for 373 yards (5.0 ypc) and four TDs … also recorded 46 receptions (No. 1 on UT's single-season receptions list for RBs) for 540 yards (No. 2 on UT's single-season list for RBs) and three TDs, including a 65-yard TD reception at Colorado (No. 7 on UT's longest reception by a RB list) … caught four passes for 35 yards and a TD while rushing for 17 yards on four carries against FAU … hauled in three passes for 35 yards at UTEP … notched two catches for 58 yards, including a 45-yard TD , versus Rice … racked up 71 rushing yards on nine carries to go along with a career-high 116 receiving yards on six catches and two total TDs at Colorado … his 111 first-half receiving yards were the most in a half by a UT running back and his 116 total ranked second all-time … his first-quarter 65-yard TD catch was a career long and is the seventh longest reception by a running back on UT record.

Earned UT's Most Productive Offensive Performer for his efforts … established career highs in rushes (15) and rushing yards (127) against No. 1 Oklahoma … added four catches for 27 yards versus the Sooners … his 62-yard run in the fourth quarter was a career long … notched 13 carries for 65 yards and two TDs against No. 11 Missouri, his first career game with multiple rushing TDs … added six catches for 68 yards versus the Tigers, tying a career high for receptions … caught three passes for 20 yards against No. 7 Texas Tech … notched a reception in a win against Baylor … caught two passes for 23 yards and recorded a 10-yard TD run at Kansas … hauled in four receptions for 26 yards against Texas A&M … gained 42 yards on 11 carries and 56 yards on four receptions in UT's 24-21 victory over No. 10 Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl … his four receptions gave him 46 for the season, breaking Eric Metcalf's single-season mark of 42 (1988).

Appeared in all 13 games at tailback and on special teams … a first-team Academic All-Big 12 selection … earned one of UT's Valor Awards … posted 26 carries for 66 yards and two TDs and 21 receptions for 204 yards … also returned four kickoffs for 74 yards and had one special teams tackle … had two carries for six yards versus Arkansas State … notched six yards on four carries and a seven-yard reception against No. 19 TCU … tallied seven carries for 25 yards and two catches for 16 yards at UCF … caught two passes for 45 yards versus Rice … posted a 15-yard kickoff return against Kansas State … recorded three receptions for 44 yards and carried the ball three times for two yards against No. 10 Oklahoma … posted 19 yards rushing on three carries and caught two passes for 13 yards at Iowa State … pulled in one reception for 11 yards and carried the ball twice for four yards and a TD at Baylor … also returned a kickoff 24 yards versus the Bears … added a 10-yard reception against Nebraska … had a two-yard run and a 10-yard reception at Oklahoma State … also notched a 15-yard kickoff return against the Cowboys … tallied one carry for two yards and three receptions for 32 yards against Texas Tech … also returned one kick for 20 yards versus the Red Raiders … added a four-yard TD run and two receptions for 11 yards at Texas A&M … notched two receptions against Arizona State in the Holiday Bowl.

Appeared in all 13 games at running back and on special teams … rushed 18 times for 82 yards and a TD … caught seven passes for 45 yards … also made two special teams tackles … recorded a tackle against North Texas … had two carries for three yards and caught two passes for 21 yards at Rice … rushed five times for 20 yards and recorded a tackle against Iowa State … notched seven carries for 25 yards and caught three passes for 23 yards versus Sam Houston State … added a reception against No. 17 Nebraska and Texas Tech … rushed three times for 33 yards versus Oklahoma State … scored a TD on a one-yard rush at Kansas State.

Played in eight games at running back after moving from wide receiver during the spring … rushed the ball 22 times for 76 yards and a TD with a long run of 22 yards versus No. 10 Texas Tech … also had one reception for three yards … opened the season with three rushes for 16 yards against La.-Lafayette … tallied three carries for six yards versus Rice … added four carries and 11 yards in a victory over No. 24 Colorado … scored the first TD of his career on a 22-yard run and totaled three carries and 26 yards against No. 10 Texas Tech … posted four carries for six yards at Oklahoma State … rushed five times for 11 yards and caught one pass for three yards in the Big 12 Championship.

Redshirted in 2004.

Coached by Ron Counter at Strake Jesuit … three-year letterman who helped his team post a 27-5 record during that time … a versatile athlete who was Strake Jesuit's leading rusher, receiver and defensive back in helping his squad to a 9-2 mark as a senior … made 20 catches for 500 yards and four touchdowns with 270 yards rushing and two TDs that year … caught 22 passes for 530 yards and eight TDs with 500 yards rushing and eight more TDs as a junior … also returned a kickoff for a TD that year … led his team to an 8-3 record as a junior … earned Greater Houston Offensive Player of the Year honors that season … also had 57 tackles, three TFL and eight PBUs as a cornerback in 2002 … made four receptions for 115 yards and ran for a 70-yard TD versus Bay City as a junior … had 30 receptions for 600 yards and 10 TDs and added five interceptions from his cornerback spot for a 10-0 squad his sophomore year … lettered in basketball for two years and was a senior captain … also lettered in track & field for three years.

Born 5/20/86 in Houston … full name is Christopher Irem Ogbonnaya … a two-time member of UT's Athletics Director's Honor Roll … a prep honor student who maintained better than a 3.5 GPA … member of the National Honor Society … named Crusader of the Year as a sophomore, recognizing academics and athletics … organized a food drive for his senior service project … participated in Habitat for Humanity, building housing for low-income families … enjoys playing the guitar, singing and video games.