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NFL Combine: Curtis Samuel Has Golden Opportunity

By Charlie Lockhart

Nov 26, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes running back Curtis Samuel (4) celebrates after scoring the game winning touchdown against the Michigan Wolverines in the second overtime at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State won the game 30-27 in double overtime.Mandatory Credit: Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes running back Curtis Samuel (4) celebrates after scoring the game winning touchdown against the Michigan Wolverines in the second overtime at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State won the game 30-27 in double overtime.Mandatory Credit: Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports /
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Big day for Curtis Samuel at the NFL Combine.

Curtis Samuel was picked as one of the top five players to watch at the Draft Combine by Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com. The other four players mentioned were DE Myles Garrett, S Marcus Williams, S Obi Melifonwu and DE Takkarist.

I wasn’t very familiar with a couple of the guys on the watch list, but I was in total agreement with the fact that Samuel is a player to keep your eye on. After today, I feel that a strong performance tomorrow by the Ohio State H-back could raise his draft status significantly.

With Samuel being an all-purpose back, scouts aren’t quite sure what position he is suited to play in the NFL. Samuel was slotted to participate with the wide receivers, while others in a similar position are competing as running backs.

Related Story: Will Curtis Samuel Be Drafted on NFL Profile or Performance?

Those players are one day ahead of the receivers in the tryouts so many of their numbers have been posted. One all-purpose back Samuel will be measured against hasn’t exactly lit up the Combine so far. A big day by Samuel tomorrow and the comparison between their stats will begin in earnest. 

Christian McCaffrey is the player many have compared Samuel to, but he is projected to be more of a hybrid back in the NFL. McCaffrey ran a 4.48  in the 40 today which tied for the fourth best time. Here are his results so far.

                                                                               40          Bench Reps        Vertical        Broad

  • Christian McCaffrey  5-11, 202         4.48                10                    37.5             121

McCaffrey had the second fewest reps in the bench press of any running back who participated. Samuel lifted 225 pounds 18 times today which would have put him in the middle of the pack in the running back group. He measured in just a little smaller than McCaffrey at 5-10, 196 pounds.

Just think if Samuel could have a big day in the other tests tomorrow. It could happen too. Check out this excerpt from Daniel Jeremiah’s article at NFL.com:

"Scouts have been told to expect him to run the 40 in the high 4.3s or low 4.4s, post a vertical close to 40 inches and broad jump at least 10 feet, 6 inches."

If Samuel can approach those numbers you would think the scouts will stand up and take notice. Who knows, perceptions among NFL general managers may change and Samuel will be seen as being on par with McCaffrey who is projected to be chosen higher in the draft.

Must Read: Will These 3 Players From DBU Be 1st Round NFL Picks?

It may not push Samuel past the Stanford running back in the draft order, but there is a chance that it could. If not, it may convince a team in need of a hybrid back to take a chance on Samuel earlier than if he was only seen as an unpolished wide receiver. In any event, the comparison of the two players’ measurables should improve Curtis Samuel’s draft stock.

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