The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/787035
MARCH 2017 THE WOLVERINE 79 2017 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE MEASURABLES • At Nike's The Opening regional camp in Dallas last spring, recorded a 4.45-sec- ond 40-yard dash and a 4.14-second 20-yard shuttle. Also posted a 2017 running back-best 44.5-inch vertical jump and had a 43.0-foot power throw. His testing earned him an outstanding Nike+ Football Rating of 142.41. STATISTICS • As a senior, rushed 160 times for 1,376 yards (8.6 per carry) and 14 touch- downs. Also had seven receptions for 46 yards and a touchdown, and returned a kickoff for a score. • In his junior season, totaled 185 car- ries for 1,468 yards (7.9 a rush) and 21 touchdowns, plus eight receptions for 92 yards and two TDs. Returned six kick- offs for 186 yards and one score. • As a sophomore, compiled 187 carries for 1,397 yards (7.5 a rush) and 14 touchdowns, and had three catches for 55 yards and a TD. On special teams, he had two kickoff returns for 150 yards with one touchdown. • Posted 27 carries for 65 yards and one touchdown, and had one reception for two yards in his freshman season. HONORS • USA Today All-USA New Mexico first-team selection as a senior and second-team pick as a junior. • First-team New Mexico High School Coaches Association 5A All-State in his final two seasons, and was a second-team pick as a sophomore. ALL-STAR GAMES AND CAMPS • Was invited to and attended Nike's The Opening Finals in Beaverton, Ore. Although his numbers weren't quite as impressive as his regional showing, he checked in with the 21st-highest Nike+ Football Rating at the finals. RECRUITMENT • Committed April 4, 2016. • When Michigan offered Samuels on the heels of his ex- plosive Nike+ Football score, his only other offers were from New Mexico State and UTSA. • Officially visited Arizona (Oct. 28,) and Michigan (Dec. 10), where he reaffirmed his commitment. • Former running backs Tyrone Wheatley was heavily in- volved in recruiting Samuels, and new running backs coach Jay Harbaugh has picked it right up with the New Mexico native. NOTABLE • Born June 18, 1999. • Missed two games his senior season with a sprained ankle. 2017 PROJECTION Nobody is expecting Samuels to contribute much in 2017, but no one thought Chris Evans would in 2016 ei- ther. Samuels has the build, athleticism and speed to be a contributor. However, the running back stable is young and talented with Evans, Karan Higdon and Kareem Walker. Unless Samuels stands out during fall camp, he'll likely be able to take a redshirt year. THEY SAID IT NMPreps.com Publisher Kyle Hen- derson: "I've known about O'maury for a while, and I've been harping about him since his sophomore year. The first time that I saw him he looked the part. He looked like an NFL-type player already, and this was back when he was probably only 15 years old. "He came out to one of our annual combines here in New Mexico and as a sophomore he had a standing broad jump of nearly 10 feet, which is just extraordinary. He was prob- ably already a 4.4-4.5 guy [in the 40-yard dash] at that time, too. "I'm very eager to see how he transitions to the Division I level because he seems to be getting better still." Los Lunas (N.M.) High Head Coach Terrell Trantham: "When he went to that Nike Combine his numbers jumped out at everybody and immediately put him in the spotlight. But we've been around him for the last couple of years, and he's always the fastest, biggest, strongest guy we see. He's a physical freak. "People around here have known he was the real deal for a while. Teams on our schedule certainly know about him and plan for him. "I didn't really realize that his numbers were so freaky. Once that happened his profile hit another level. I think the big thing is that he's still improving as a running back. "When he's able to transition to a system where there's a running backs coach who only focuses on that, and they watch film together and grow together as a position group, I think he'll go to another level." Running Backs Coach Jay Harbaugh: "O'maury is an exciting back because he can do everything. He's a sturdy guy who can run the ball between the tackles as well as out on the perimeter. He has the ability to be an effective con- tributor in the passing game as well. O'maury is a versatile player, and what might be most exciting is his burst. He has a great ability to stop and start. If there's a hole, he is going to hit it and hit it fast, and he can really take advantage of any creases in the defense." O'MAURY SAMUELS RUNNING BACK 5-10 • 192 LOS LUNAS H.S. LOS LUNAS, N.M. RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ — 21 — ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ — 21 1 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 22 1 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 240 22 1 LOS LUNAS (N.M.) HIGH HEAD COACH TERRELL TRANTHAM "When he went to that Nike Combine his numbers jumped out at everybody and immediately put him in the spotlight. … He's a physical freak." Samuels rushed for 4,306 yards and 50 touchdowns during his prep career at Los Lunas (N.M.) High. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM