Jamaal Charles was born December 27, 1986 in Port Arthur, Texas and attended Memorial High School where, during his junior year he 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. The following year, Charles rushed for 2,056 yards and 25 touchdowns, causing the Associated Press to name him to their first team all-state and the Houston Chronicle to declare him Area Offensive MVP. He was named to the 2005 Parade All-America Football Team, played in the 2005 U.S. Army All-American Bowl and was the District 22-5A Player of the Year for both his junior and senior years.

After graduation, Charles attended the University of Texas in Austin, and in his freshman season rushed 119 times for 878 yards and 11 touchdowns, assisting his team in winning a national championship. During the 2007 season, Charles rushed for over 1,400 yards, with an average of more than six yards per carry. He ranks fourth in the list of total-rushing yards by a UT player behind Ricky Williams, Cedric Benson, and Earl Campbell, with 3,328 yards.

Though Charles is known for his accomplishments on the football field, during high school and college, he was also a noted track and field athlete, winning the bronze medal in the 400m hurdles at the 2003 IAAF World Youth Championships and winning the 110m and 300m hurdles at the Texas 5A State Championships. While in college at the University of Texas in Austin, Charles completed his first track season as a four-time All-American (60m indoor, 100m outdoor, 200m outdoor, 4x100m relay outdoor).

In 2008, Charles opted out of his senior year at UT in order to join the 2008 NFL Draft and begin his professional football career. Selected in the third round with the 73rd pick by the Kansas City Chiefs, Charles began playing pro ball and ended his first season with 357 yards rushing and 272 yards receiving with an impressive 5.3 yards per carry average. In the 2009 season, Charles was promoted to first string and played a stellar season becoming the only player in NFL history to rush for 1,100 or more yards in 200 or fewer carries and the only running back in NFL history to rush average 5.9 yards per carry, run 1,000 yards and catch 40 balls. In 2010, Jamaal Charles signed a new five-year contract with the Chiefs and was invited to the 2011 Pro Bowl and named to Pro Football Weekly’s 2010 All-NFL Team.

Fox 4's Brooke Bentley sat down with Jamaal Charles at his new exhibit at the Museum of the Gulf Coast on Friday, January 21, 2011. Click here to see the interview.

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