Former Ohio State star running back Maurice Clarett wrote in his blog that he’s in good shape and wants to play football again when he gets out of prison.

Clarett, 25, earned a jail sentence of at least 3-1/2 years in September 2006 after being arrested on concealed weapons charges in Ohio. He could be released next year.

He has blogged periodically from prison, and his May 25 entry says he’s trying to stay in shape that could give him another chance in the NFL.

(Notably, Clarett’s blog post came one day before Judge Sonia Sotomayor, who authored the ruling that dismissed his bid to enter the NFL draft as an underclassman, was nominated to the Supreme Court.)

“I can’t hold these feelings in anymore,” Clarett said. “I want to play football again. I have a deep desire to play. I love the game. I have so much penitentiary aggression pinned up inside of me. I want to hit someone. I want to run the ball. I want to tackle someone. I want to play. I am going to play somewhere.”

Clarett was a third-round draft choice by Denver in 2005. But he never played a game. He would be a longshot to earn a roster spot in the NFL if he tried in 2010 at age 26. But he could be a candidate for the UFL if the start-up league is around then.

No wonder newspaper columnists don’t take bloggers serious – this dude’s blogging from freaking prison.

I think the only way the UFL succeeds even for a day is if it goes out and recruits players like Clarett and Michael Vick knowing that there is no such thing as bad publicity. As much as I would deny wanting to watch, I know I would tune in just to see how Clarett and Vick look in playing action again. In know way do I think the UFL will ever be profitable (especially if it foolishly runs against the NFL’s regular season), but I’d at least be a little interested in tuning in to watch Clarett and Vick play some second rate football.

In the wake of O.J. Simpson being convicted for robbing a sports memorabilia dealer over the weekend, Real Clear Sports.com ranks the 10 most infamous sports criminals.

#1 O.J. Simpson
Was there any question about who would be number one on this list?

His career was the most successful of anyone that earned this dubious distinction; his celebrity status the largest; and his crimes among the most heinous…

#2 Tonya Harding
Tonya Harding became infamous in the minds of America on January 6, 1994. It was on that day when fellow-skater and competitor Nancy Kerrigan was attacked following a practice section at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. Kerrigan was struck in the knee with a metal baton by Shane Stant, who was hired by Harding’s ex-husband Jeff Gillooly and friend, Shawn Eckardt…

#4 Michael Vick
By 2007, after being linked to a marijuana distribution incident, carrying marijuana hidden in a water bottle through airport security, holding up both middle fingers to a home crowd in 2006 and taking on the unfortunate nickname of Ron Mexico, Michael Vick’s image as the most electrifying player in football was just starting to wane. But in 2007, the former number one overall pick in the NFL draft was indicted on charges that would change his public image, possibly forever…

#8 Maurice Clarett
At one time, Maurice Clarett was a promising freshmen running back at Ohio State who led his team to a surprising national championship victory over an “unbeatable” Miami team. Unfortunately, that would be the highlight of Clarett’s football career…

It’s absolutely amazing how some athletes have so much and yet still find ways to commit the most brutal crimes. Just goes to show you that even though we think we do because we watch them on the field, ice or diamond, we have no idea who these athletes really are as people.