Chauncey Washington Chauncey Washington ( born April 29 , 1985 ) is an American football running back who is currently on the Dallas Cowboys practice squad . He was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft . He played college football at Southern California . Washington has also played for New York Jets and St . Louis Rams . Early years . Washington had a heralded career as an athlete at South Torrance High School . In his Senior 2002 season , he earned numerous All - American honors , running for 1 , 549 yards on 140 carries ( 11 . 1 avg . ) with 23 TDs while catching 13 passes for 200 yards ( 15 . 4 avg . ) with 2 TDs in 2002 despite missing 5 games with a knee injury . He also earned substantial notice as a sophomore and junior player As a Senior , Washington was ranked as the # 12 running back in the nation by ESPN . com was aggressively recruited by USC and Michigan State , as well as Wisconsin , Oregon , Oregon State , ASU , Arizona , Boston College and Washington State . College career . Although Washington admitted he grew up as a rival - UCLA fan , he became USC ' s second commitment to the 2003 recruiting class in May 2002 . That class also included two other highly touted running backs : 2005 Heisman Trophy - winner Reggie Bush as well as Colorado high school all - star and future USC touchdown leader LenDale White . Going into their freshman 2003 season , all three backs were considered to be talented enough to challenge for the starting position and all three played during the USC opener at Auburn . Washington ' s freshman season was limited by a nagging ankle injury suffered in the second game of the season that caused him to miss half the season and the 2004 spring practice due to a stress fracture in the ankle . 2004 . Washington was ruled academically ineligible for the 2004 season and was redshirted . Washington was again academically ineligible for the 2005 season and lost his athletic scholarship . After considering entering the NFL Draft , leaving USC or transferring to a different school ( with easier academic requirements ) , Washington was encouraged by his parents , teammates and university staff to stay in school and focus on academics while paying his own way through school . After much focus and hard work , Washington finally regained academic eligibility in the spring of 2006 , and regained his scholarship that August . Initially planned as the starting running back for the 2006 USC Trojans , the redshirt junior suffered a hamstring injury in pre - season practice , but had re - gained the starting position by midseason . He told the Los Angeles Times ' Gary Klein that he had decided to forego the 2007 NFL Draft and return for his redshirt senior season . Going into 2007 spring practice , Washington ' s grades again became a concern . At the start of the 2007 season , Washington was again sidelined with an injury and did not play in the Trojans ' opener . However , he rushed for over 900 yards and was a Pac - 10 honorable mention player . Professional career . Jacksonville Jaguars . Washington was selected in the 7th round pick 213 of the 2008 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars . On June 26 , 2008 Washington signed a contract of four years worth $ 1 . 6 million . First stint with Cowboys . Washington was signed to the Dallas Cowboys ' practice squad on September 22 . He was promoted to the active roster on October 3 after injuries to Marion Barber III and Felix Jones . Safety Marvin White was waived to make room for Washington on the roster . After playing in the team ' s loss to the Denver Broncos on October 4 , the Cowboys waived Washington the following day and signed Cletis Gordon . He was re - signed to the practice squad on October 6 , only to be re - signed to the active roster on October 10 . He was waived again on October 12 . He signed to the practice squad of the Cowboys again on October 13 . New York Jets . Washington was signed off the Cowboys ' practice squad on December 14 , 2009 by the New York Jets . Washington would be waived by the team on September 5 , 2010 . Washington would later be resigned to the team ' s practice squad on September 7 , 2010 . St . Louis Rams . Washington was signed off of the New York Jets practice squad on September 28 , 2010 by the St . Louis Rams . He was waived on October 18 . Second stint with Cowboys . Washington returned to the Cowboys on November 30 , 2011 as a practice squad member .