The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/666058
COMMITMENT PROFILE Rivals.com doesn't currently rank Los Lunas (N.M.) High rising senior running back O'Maury Samuels, but many see him as a budding star. The 5‑10, 190‑pounder blew up at The Opening Regional Camp March 13 in Dal‑ las, running a 4.48 40‑yard dash and posting a 44.5‑inch vertical jump. Through the first weekend in April, the mus‑ cle‑bound back held the highest N i k e F o o t b a l l Rating, a mea‑ sure of overall athletic ability, in the country with a 142.41. He picked up a Michigan of‑ fer immediately after the camp, set up a visit and t h e n d e c i d e d over the week‑ end of the Wolverines' spring game that Ann Arbor would be his future home. "I committed because the people at Michigan are great," he said. "The tradition at Michigan is there, and the coaches are definitely there. The academic department told me some things about the setup for athletes, and it seemed very supportive. "Everything about the school is nice. There are a ton of recruits pay‑ ing attention right now. Michigan is on a roll, and I decided to join." S a m u e l s r e ‑ sides 1,500 miles away from Ann Arbor, but af‑ t e r s p e n d i n g a w e e k e n d i n town he noticed the buzz around the program and felt comfortable enough to pledge to the Wolver‑ ines. He doesn't see the distance from home being an issue, and his future position c o a c h , Ty ro n e Wheatley, is a big reason for that. " I s p o k e a lot with Coach Wheatley, and he made me feel comfortable and wel‑ come," Samuels said. "He said he needed an explosive back. He told me that I already have the attributes to be an all‑purpose back, and that's how they see me. "I feel like the fit is good, and dis‑ tance shouldn't be an issue for me." Running Back O'Maury Samuels Jumped On The Michigan Train Samuels, an unranked running back from Los Lunas (N.M.) High, turned heads at The Opening Regional Camp March 13 in Dallas by running a 4.48 40-yard dash and posting a 44.5-inch vertical jump. PHOTO BY BRANDON BROWN