Curtis Samuel
refer to caption
Samuel with the Commanders in 2022
No. 4 – Washington Commanders
Position:Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (1996-08-11) August 11, 1996 (age 27)
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school:Erasmus Hall (Brooklyn)
College:Ohio State (2014–2016)
NFL draft:2017 / Round: 2 / Pick: 40
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 18, 2023
Receptions:317
Receiving yards:3,383
Receiving touchdowns:22
Rushing yards:715
Rushing touchdowns:7
Return yards:430
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Curtis Samuel (born August 11, 1996) is an American football wide receiver for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes, winning the 2015 College Football Playoff National Championship and earning All-American honors in 2016. Samuel was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft and played four seasons with them before joining Washington in 2021.

Early years

Samuel attended Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn, New York, where he played as a running back for the Dutchmen football team and also ran track.[1] As a junior, Samuel averaged 11.5 yards per carry while rushing for 1,047 yards and 13 touchdowns. Named New York Daily News city player of the year in 2012. In track, he won the 55 meters at the New York State track and field championships with a blistering time of 6.44 seconds. In addition to his success as a running back, he also scored three receiving touchdowns and two punt return touchdowns. In his senior year Samuel averaged 15.8 yards per rush for 1,461 yards and 17 touchdowns. He was named the 2013 New York Gatorade Player of the Year and was invited to All-American Bowl.[2]

College career

A 4-star recruit, Samuel committed to play college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes.[3] He contributed in the 2014–2016 seasons under head coach Urban Meyer.[4] In the 2014 season, he had 58 carries for 383 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns to go along with 11 receptions for 95 receiving yards.[5]

In the 2015 season, he had 17 carries for 132 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown to go along with 22 receptions for 289 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns.[6]

In the 2016 season, he had 97 carries for 771 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns to go along with 74 receptions for 865 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns. He was awarded first-team All-Big Ten and All-American honors. Samuel is the only player in Ohio State history to ever gain over 1,000 career yards in both rushing and receiving.[7]

College statistics

Season Rushing Receiving
Att Yards Avg TD Rec Yards Avg TD
2014 58 383 6.6 6 11 95 8.6 0
2015 17 132 7.8 1 22 289 13.1 2
2016 97 771 7.9 8 74 865 11.7 7
Career 172 1,286 7.5 15 107 1,249 11.7 9

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press Wonderlic
5 ft 10+5⁄8 in
(1.79 m) 		196 lb
(89 kg) 		31+1⁄4 in
(0.79 m) 		9+1⁄2 in
(0.24 m)		 4.31 s 1.55 s 2.56 s 4.33 s 7.09 s 37 in
(0.94 m)		 9 ft 11 in
(3.02 m)		 18 reps 22
All values from NFL Combine.[8][9]

Carolina Panthers

2017

Samuel was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the second round (40th overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft.[10] On May 5, 2017, the Panthers signed Samuel to a four-year, $6.45 million contract with $4.05 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $2.83 million.[11][12]

Samuel with the Panthers in 2019

On September 17, 2017, in Week 2, Samuel had his first two career receptions, which went for seven yards, in a 9–3 victory over the Buffalo Bills.[13] In Week 3, against the New Orleans Saints, he recorded a 31-yard rush on an end-around.[14] On November 14, 2017, Samuel's rookie season abruptly ended after he suffered a left ankle injury during Monday Night Football against the Miami Dolphins in Week 10, in which the Panthers announced that his ankle would have surgery.[15] He was placed on injured reserve on November 24, 2017.[16] Overall, in his rookie season, he finished with 15 receptions for 115 receiving yards to go along with four carries for 64 rushing yards in nine games.[17]

2018

In the 2018 season, Samuel scored his first career touchdown on October 7 against the New York Giants.[18] Overall, he finished the 2018 season with 39 receptions for 494 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns. In addition, he had 84 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns on eight carries.[19]

2019

In Week 3 of the 2019 season against the Arizona Cardinals, Samuel caught five passes for 53 yards and his first receiving touchdown of the season in the 38–20 win.[20] Overall, in the 2019 season, he had 54 receptions for 627 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns to go along with 19 carries for 130 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown.[21]

2020

In Week 9, against the Kansas City Chiefs, Samuel had nine receptions for 105 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown in the 33–31 loss.[22] In Week 11 against the Detroit Lions, Samuel recorded 8 catches for 70 yards, including the first touchdown pass thrown by quarterback P. J. Walker during the 20–0 win.[23] He was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the Panthers on December 7, 2020,[24] and activated on December 11.[25] In Week 17 against the New Orleans Saints, Samuel recorded seven catches for a season high 118 yards during the 33–7 loss.[26] He finished the 2020 season with 77 receptions for 851 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns to go along with 41 carries for 200 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.[27]

Washington Football Team / Commanders

Samuel in 2021

Samuel signed a three-year, $34.5 million contract with the Washington Football Team on March 18, 2021.[28][29] By signing with the Commanders, he was reunited with his college roommate, Terry McLaurin.[30] He was placed on the active/physically unable to perform (PUP) list at the start of training camp due to a groin injury before he was placed on the COVID-19 reserve list two days in.[31][32] He returned to the PUP list on August 9 and was placed back to the active roster on August 15.[33] Samuel tweaked his groin in practice just days before the opening game of the season and was placed on injured reserve. Samuel returned to the active roster on October 1, 2021.[34][35]

In the 2022 season opening win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, Samuel recorded 55 receiving yards off eight receptions, 17 rushing yards, and his first touchdown reception for Washington.[36] The next game, he followed up with seven receptions for 78 yards, 21 rushing yards, and a receiving touchdown against the Lions.[37] Samuel played in the entirety of the 17 game season and was occasionally used as a running back as well as a wide receiver. He finished the year with 64 receptions for 646 yards and four receiving touchdowns as well as 38 rushing attempts for 187 yards and one rushing touchdown.[38]

Samuel changed his uniform number to 4 for the 2023 season.[39]

Statistics

Season Team Games Receiving Rushing Fumbles
GP GS Tgt Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Att Yds Avg Lng TD Fum Lost
2017 CAR 9 4 26 15 115 7.7 23 0 4 64 16.0 31 0 0 0
2018 CAR 13 8 65 39 494 12.7 53 5 8 84 10.5 33 2 1 1
2019 CAR 16 15 105 54 627 11.6 44 6 19 130 6.8 16 1 0 0
2020 CAR 15 5 97 77 851 11.1 44 3 41 200 4.9 45 2 1 0
2021 WAS 5 1 9 6 27 4.5 10 0 4 11 2.8 8 0 0 0
2022 WAS 17 12 92 64 656 10.3 49 4 38 187 4.9 21 1 1 1
2023 WAS 16 13 91 62 613 9.9 37 4 7 39 5.6 15 1 0 0
Total 91 58 485 317 3383 10.7 53 22 121 715 5.9 45 7 3 2

References

  1. ^ Braziller, Zach (December 23, 2017). "Erasmus Hall keeps sending football players to highest level". New York Post. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
  2. ^ "4 – Curtis Samuel". OhioStateBuckeyes.com. Ohio State University. Archived from the original on August 27, 2016. Retrieved September 6, 2016.
  3. ^ "Curtis Samuel, 2014 Wide Receiver". Rivals.com. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  4. ^ "Curtis Samuel College Stats". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  5. ^ "Curtis Samuel 2014 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  6. ^ "Curtis Samuel 2015 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  7. ^ "Curtis Samuel 2016 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  8. ^ "NFL Draft Profile: Curtis Samuel". NFL.com. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
  9. ^ "Ranking the NFL draft prospects: Wide receivers, tight ends". packersnews.com. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
  10. ^ Henson, Max (April 28, 2017). "Panthers draft Curtis Samuel in second round". Panthers.com. Archived from the original on May 3, 2017.
  11. ^ "Spotrac.com: Curtis Samuel contract". Spotrac.com. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
  12. ^ Biddle, Dave (May 5, 2017). "Curtis Samuel signs rookie contract". 247 Sports. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  13. ^ "Buffalo Bills at Carolina Panthers – September 17th, 2017". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 14, 2017.
  14. ^ "New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers – September 24th, 2017". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 5, 2017.
  15. ^ Patra, Kevin (November 14, 2017). "Curtis Samuel to undergo season-ending ankle surgery". NFL.com. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  16. ^ Henson, Max (November 24, 2017). "Greg Olsen activated, Curtis Samuel placed on IR". Panthers.com. Archived from the original on November 26, 2017. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  17. ^ "Curtis Samuel 2017 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  18. ^ Taranto, Steven (October 7, 2018). "Brooklyn native Curtis Samuel scores first NFL TD against Giants". 247 Sports. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
  19. ^ "Curtis Samuel 2018 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
  20. ^ "Allen throws 4 TDs, Panthers beat Cardinals 38–20". www.espn.com. Associated Press. September 22, 2019. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
  21. ^ "Curtis Samuel 2019 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  22. ^ "Carolina Panthers at Kansas City Chiefs – November 8th, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  23. ^ "Detroit Lions at Carolina Panthers – November 22nd, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 28, 2020.
  24. ^ Gantt, Darin (December 7, 2020). "Panthers place eight players on reserve/COVID list". Panthers.com. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  25. ^ Bryan, Will (December 11, 2020). "Three players activated from reserve/COVID-19 list". Panthers.com. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  26. ^ "New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers – January 3rd, 2021". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  27. ^ "Curtis Samuel 2020 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  28. ^ Keim, John; Newton, David (March 18, 2021). "Source: WR Curtis Samuel signing 3-year, $34.5 million deal with Washington Football Team". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
  29. ^ "Washington Signs WR Curtis Samuel". Washington Commanders. March 18, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  30. ^ Hailey, Peter (March 19, 2021). "Curtis Samuel on how 'crazy' it is to be reunited with McLaurin". RSN. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  31. ^ Alper, Josh (July 27, 2021). "Curtis Samuel to PUP list, Cornelius Lucas to COVID list in Washington". Pro Football Talk. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  32. ^ Alper, Josh (July 29, 2021). "Curtis Samuel, Matt Ioannidis land on Washington's COVID-19 reserve list". Pro Football Talk. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  33. ^ Fisher, Mike (August 15, 2021). "Washington Roster Moves: Samuel at Practice, Former Pro Bowl RB Cut". SI.com. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
  34. ^ Dubin, Jared (September 10, 2021). "Ron Rivera announces Washington will place Curtis Samuel on IR due to lingering groin injury". CBS Sports. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  35. ^ "Washington WR Curtis Samuel expected to play against Falcons". AP NEWS. October 1, 2021. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  36. ^ "Commanders-Jaguars Stats & Snaps". Commanders.com. September 12, 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  37. ^ "Commanders-Lions Stats & Snaps". Commanders.com. September 19, 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  38. ^ "Curtis Samuel 2022 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  39. ^ Selby, Zach. "Commanders announce Curtis Samuel will wear No. 4 jersey for 2023 season". Commanders.com. Retrieved April 21, 2023.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Curtis Samuel.
2014 Ohio State Buckeyes football—consensus national champions
Carolina Panthers 2017 NFL Draft selections
Washington Commanders roster
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