Normandy High School Alumni
St. Louis, Missouri (MO)
Laurence Maroney
National Football League player
What is Laurence Maroney known for?
Laurence Maroney, a proud native of St. Louis, Missouri, was born on February 5, 1985. He began showing his athletic prowess at Normandy High School located in Wellston, Missouri where he gained four varsity letters in football, three in track, two in basketball, and one in baseball. In particular, his football abilities shone through, as he holds the school's single season rushing record, racking up an impressive 1,903 yards in 2002.
He went on to have a stellar college football career at the University of Minnesota, taking to the field as a running back from 2003 to 2005. Despite splitting duties over the years, he made history by becoming the first Golden Gopher and only the third in the Big Ten Conference to rush for 1,000 yards in each of his first three seasons. He was also a two-time All-Big Ten First-team selection (2004–2005), and was selected an All-American in 2005.
Maroney made the leap to the big leagues when he was selected by the New England Patriots with the 21st overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft. He played for the Patriots from 2006 to 2010 before concluding his career with the Denver Broncos in 2010.
In his five seasons in the National Football League, Maroney ran for a total of 2,504 yards, with a rushing average of 4.1. He achieved 21 rushing touchdowns and made 44 receptions, covering 459 yards and scoring one receiving touchdown. His NFL career numbers can be found at NFL.com.
Notable highlights of his professional career include his performance in Week 4 of the 2006 season, where he ran for 125 yards and scored two touchdowns against the Cincinnati Bengals, earning him both FedEx Ground NFL Player of the Week and Diet Pepsi Rookie NFL Player of the Week honors. He was also voted the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week after a 74-yard kickoff return in Week 7, and in Week 8 he had a 77-yard kickoff return against the Minnesota Vikings.
In conclusion, Laurence Maroney's journey from Missouri high school star to top NFL Running Back is a testament to his commitment, skill, and passion for the game of football.