The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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MARCH 2023 THE WOLVERINE 51 P L AY E R BIOS BY ZACH LIBBY Kicker Adam Samaha will forever hold the title as the first pledge in Michigan's 2023 recruiting class, having given the Wolverines his verbal commitment all the way back on Thanksgiving Day 2021. The local product out of Ann Arbor Huron also is one of four in-staters to join the program that he has long supported while growing up. "It's super exciting, and I can't wait to get to Michigan finally and work," Samaha said. "The atmosphere, the players and the coaches‚ just getting to know all of them throughout the time that Michigan recruited me [was spe- cial]. It felt like family ever since I first started getting recruited, and now I'm officially part of the family." Samaha will be carry- ing on a legacy tradition, since his grandparents and parents are graduates of Michigan. His father, Waleed Samaha, the former director of basketball operations at U-M under John Beilein, is a longtime high school head basketball coach in the state of Michigan. "I just knew that Michigan was the per- fect fit for me," Samaha said. "I grew up around Michigan, and I've always been a huge fan. The fact that they gave me the chance, and I had the intangibles to be recruited by them is an honor. "I'm very blessed to be in the position that I am today and very excited for what's to come in the future." The Wolverines are getting a quality special teams addition from their own backyard. Samaha was ranked as the No. 10 kicker in the country by On3 and the On3 Consensus, and according to Kohl's Professional Camps and Kornblue Kicking, he is a five-star talent. Kornblue, run by for- mer U-M kicker Bran- don Kornblue, even rated Samaha as the No. 1 kicking prospect na- tionally. Samaha went on to participate in the U.S. Army Bowl in Decem- ber, and he matched his career-long with a 49- yard field goal in the all- star game. The early timing of his commitment posi- tioned him for a lead- ership role in the class. Samaha became a vocal advocate who garnered relationships with interested recruits over social media, phone calls and texts, in-person visits and at the Big House during games. He and his family were in attendance for each of Michigan's eight home games last fall. "Not only is Michigan super high on athletics and academics, but they expect the most and best out of you through your overall character," Samaha said. "That's exactly what I want, because it'll set me up in life, not just in football." ❏ 2023 Projection With two-time Big Ten Kicker of the Year Jake Moody departing for the NFL, Samaha could potentially win the job as the U-M placekicker by Week 1 of the 2023 season. While it's unrealistic for Samaha to replicate the numbers that Moody produced in his final couple of years, a serviceable campaign as a fresh- man would be the perfect steppingstone for Samaha to become the next in a long line of great U-M kickers. Rated as a five-star kicking prospect by Kohl's Professional Camps and Kornblue Kicking, Samaha matched h i s c a r e e r- l o n g w i t h a 4 9 - y a r d field goal in the U.S. Army Bowl in December. PHOTO COURTESY ADAM SAMAHA STATISTICS Year FGM-FGA Lg. XPM-XPA 2022 11-14 49 37-37 2021 7-10 42 34-34 HONORS • Ranked by Kornblue Kicking as the No. 1 prospect in the class of 2023, a five-star kicker and the youngest player to earn a five-star ranking in the service's history. • Also listed by Kohl's Professional Camps as a five-star kicking prospect. • U.S. Army Bowl participant; converted a 49-yard field goal in the game. • Detroit Free Press Dream Team (2022). • Finished his career ranked in six catego- ries of the Michigan high school record book. • All-Southeastern Conference performer as a junior and senior. • Helped Huron reach the playoffs three straight seasons (2020-22). • As a senior, the River Rats went 5-5; also went .500 during the COVID-short- ened 2020 season at 3-3. • Part of a Huron team that went 8-2 and reached the state championship playoffs his junior year in 2021, the program's best record in 20 years. RECRUITMENT • Pledged to Michigan Nov. 25, 2021, after receiving offer August 2021. • Recruited by U-M special teams coach Jay Harbaugh. DID YOU KNOW? • Holds the school record for longest field goal in a game at 49 yards. • Hit 50 touchbacks on 56 kickoffs during his junior year. • Also lettered in basketball; set a program record with 65 three-pointers in 2021. • Son of Waleed and Sheri Samaha. • Born March 20, 2005. ADAM SAMAHA KICKER 5-11 • 170 HURON HIGH YPSILANTI, MICH. RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE ✪ ✪ ✪ 2,197 10 35 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 10 46 ✪ ✪ — 9 51 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 14 20 ✪ ✪ — — — ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 22 22 1 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 1 1 1 consensus First In The Class, Adam Samaha Is Ready To Kickstart His U-M Career THEY SAID IT Former Huron head coach Antaiwn Mack: "Adam is a great kid. He has high character and a great family background. He's a great leader who leads by ex- ample. He's an extremely hard worker. "He's one of the most athletic kickers I've ever seen and is a basketball player as well. He's determined and skilled. He works really hard at his craft. He's even competitive in the classroom. He's a very detail-oriented young man. He's going to be a great addition to the Michigan program, and I'm excited to see what the future holds."