Maurice Clarett -- I'M FINALLY OFF PROBATION ... 'Moving On with My Life'

Former college football superstar Maurice Clarett is finally off probation stemming from robbery and weapons convictions in 2006 ... and says he's finally ready to start the "next chapter" of his life.

Clarett -- who at one point was widely considered the best NCAA football player in the country -- robbed two people at gunpoint in '06 ... and later that year got busted with 4 guns and a hatchet in his car.

The ex-Ohio State Buckeyes running back was sentenced to more than 7 years in prison -- but was released in 2010 ... and given 5 more years of probation.

But Wednesday, the 31-year-old appeared in an Ohio courtroom where the judge officially ended his probation two months ahead of schedule.

According to the Columbus Dispatch, the judge praised Clarett during the hearing as one of the "truly, truly wonderful success stories I've had as a judge."