Vernand Morency Vernand Morency ( born February 4 , 1980 in Miami , Florida ) is a former American football running back who played in the National Football League ( NFL ) . He was drafted by the Houston Texans in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft . He last played for the Green Bay Packers . Morency played college football for Oklahoma State University . Biography . Vernand Morency grew up in Miami , Florida where his parents , immigrants from Haiti , had him working in their family real estate business from the age of 5 . This experience impacted him tremendously and helped shape a strong , disciplined work ethic which translated into successful careers in both professional baseball and football . His love for real estate never went away and in 2006 - 07 , Vernand was part of a syndicate group led by T Boone Pickens to develop the $ 250 + million Boone Pickens Stadium at his alma mater , Oklahoma State University . In 2007 and 2008 , Vernand was twice competitively selected to participate in the prestigious NFL Business Management and Entrepreneurship Program at the University of Pennsylvania ' s Wharton School . Today , in addition to being an accomplished professional baseball and football player , Vernand invests , owns and manages properties across the country and is involved in several different non - profit initiatives , including work with Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle and his Wisconsin Covenant initiative promising all eighth - graders affordable higher education upon academic success . High school years . While attending Northwestern High School in Miami , Florida , Morency was a four - year letterman in baseball and a two - year letterman in football , and won All - America honors in both sports . As a senior football running back , he gained over 1 , 500 all - purpose yards and scored 15 touchdowns . Professional baseball career . Morency was a 14th round pick ( 420th overall ) of the Colorado Rockies in 1998 . He spent four seasons as a center fielder in the Rockies ’ minor league system before enrolling at Oklahoma State in 2002 . College football career . Morency attended Oklahoma State University and finished his career with 451 rushing attempts for 2 , 661 yards ( 5 . 9 yards per rush attempt avg . ) , 23 touchdowns , 11 receptions for 119 yards ( 10 . 8 yards per rec . avg . ) , and returned ten kickoffs for 224 yards ( 22 . 4 yards per kick ret . avg . ) . Morency ' s junior season in 2004 was his breakout season . In 2004 he rushed for 1 , 474 yards and 12 touchdowns . He also had one receiving touchdown . Morency was the recipient of the prestigious Thurman Thomas Award for being the most outstanding offensive player in the 2004 season . He decided to forgo his senior year at OSU and declared for the NFL draft on January 3 , 2005 . NFL career . Houston Texans . Morency was selected in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans . He was the second - string running back behind Domanick Davis for the team in 2005 , rushing 46 times for 184 yards and 2 touchdowns . He also returned 20 kicks for 437 yards and caught 10 passes for 87 yards . Green Bay Packers . After the first week of the 2006 NFL season , Morency was traded to the Green Bay Packers for running back Samkon Gado . He spent the 2006 season as the Packers ' short yardage back , playing behind Ahman Green . Morency ' s best game of the 2006 season came against the Arizona Cardinals , where he rushed for 101 yards . On April 4 , 2008 the Packers re - signed him to a one - year , $ 927 , 000 contract . On August 30 , 2008 he was released from the Packers .