20/20: Curtis Samuel
Welcome to the 20/20 series. As part of our continued Dynasty Scouts coverage and in preparation for the NFL Combine, we’ll be profiling 20 of the top incoming rookies of the class of 2017 by giving you 20 facts you must know.
1.) Player Name – Curtis Samuel
2.) College – Ohio State
3.) Height/Weight – 5-foot-11, 201 pounds
4.) Birthdate – 8/11/96 (20)
5.) Class – Junior
6.) Basic college stats –
[am4show have=’g1;’ guest_error=’sub_message’ user_error=’sub_message’ ]
7.) NFL Draft round projection – Samuel is forecasted to be drafted in the second to third round, making him likely to be a top-100 in the NFL Draft. His status could easily rise or drop due to how well he performs at the combine.
8.) Current NFL comp –He is very comparable to Percy Harvin. Like Harvin, Samuel has the ability to run routes a as a receiver and can be utilized out of the backfield as a running back. Both players are dangerous in the open field and can eat up yards when given the ball in space.
9.) Best possible landing spot – Dallas Cowboys
Samuel’s versatility provides an element to their offense that they have been trying to implement for years. Dallas wants a solid utility player that can be used out of the backfield as a runner but can also be a valuable asset in the passing game. Lucky Whitehead and Dwayne Harris were both used as specialty pieces during previous years, but Samuel’s athleticism and route running ability would provide a deeper dimension to Dallas’ offense. Quarterback Dak Prescott has an affinity of connecting with his receivers in the short to intermediate sectors of the field, which is where Samuel excels, making him a candidate to thrive in Dallas’ passing game.
Of course, most of the targets are going to be funneled to Ezekiel Elliott out of the backfield, but he can still hold value in PPR leagues in Lance Dunbar’s old role as the team’s passing catching specialist out of the backfield. Dunbar caught 94 receptions for 422 yards during his four-year career with the Cowboys and if it wasn’t for his lengthy injury history, those numbers would have been a lot higher. There’s plenty of room in Dallas’ offense for Samuel to excel and be a dynamic PPR flex option in fantasy leagues.
10.) Worst possible destination – Houston Texans
DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller are going to soak up all the targets and he would have to beat out Tyler Ervin for snaps out of the backfield. Houston drafted Braxton Miller last year who is very comparable to Samuel when it comes to skill sets and he was utilized in almost the exact manner at Ohio State.
11.) Best current skill – His versatility is his best asset because it provides his coaching staff an extra weapon on the field that can be utilized in the run or pass game. His short area quickness creates a miss match for linebackers and he’s almost too tough for defensive backs to tackle in the open field.
12.) Skill that needs to be improved – He’s one of the better route runners when compared to the other running backs in this draft class, but he still has a lot of developing to do in this area for him to be able to consistently win against NFL corners. He wasn’t a full-time receiver at Ohio State, so he doesn’t have as much experience running routes compared most wide receiver prospects. Samuel will need to quickly expand his route tree if his coaching staff wants to use him more as a receiver.
13.) Past/current rookie ADP – Samuel currently has an ADP of 17.00, making him a mid-second round pick in rookie drafts. His ADP projects him as the eighth wide receiver off the board and if you want to consider him as a running back he would be the tenth running back off the board. His draft position will likely change after the NFL Draft.
14.) Projected dynasty value – It really depends on where he goes in the draft. If he goes to a team like Green Bay, then his value will sky rocket because they have a history of manufacturing touches for their receivers out of the backfield. His stock could easily drop if he goes to a team that strictly wants to use him as a receiver, because it takes away from his versatility and kills the “Swiss Army Knife” mantra that describes his multiple skill sets.
15.) Recruiting profile – He was a four-star recruit from Brooklyn, New York and was ranked the fifty-ninth best player in the 2014 recruiting class per 247sports. He was also considered the top player out of the state of New York that year.
16.) Athletic freak – During the 2013 Nike SPARQ Combine, Samuel ran a 4.36 40-yard dash and obtained an incredible 40.7-inch vertical jump.
17.) Mega producer – He led the team with 865 receiving yards which equated to a 31.10 percent market share of Ohio State’s passing attack. This is amazing because he also rushed for 771-yards, allowing him to own a 27.41 percent market share of the team’s offensive production. Samuel led the team with 17 plays with 20 or more yards.
18.) Highly Ranked – According to DLF rookie rankings, he currently ranks fifth amongst the wide receivers in this draft class. Five of the nine rankers have him slotted in the top five, with his highest rank being third and his lowest at 13.
19.) Earned his high school letterman jacket – He rushed for 1,461 yards and 17 touchdowns while averaging 15.8 yards per carry which helped lead his team to the Public School Athletic League city title game during his senior season. He also rushed for 1,047 yards and 13 touchdowns during his junior year.
20.) Honors – Samuel was a first team All-American by the Associated Press and The Sporting News. He was also a finalist for the Chicago Tribune’s Silver Football Award and was first team All-Big Ten at receiver.
[/am4show]
- Dynasty Film Review: Michael Penix and Spencer Rattler - January 4, 2025
- Dynasty Film Review: Kimani Vidal, Audric Estime and Kenny McIntosh - December 28, 2024
- Dynasty Film Review: Jalen Coker, Jalen McMillan and Malik Washington - December 21, 2024
