If someone were to create a highlight reel for Curtis Samuel’s 2016 season, chances are it would be pretty long.
It would surely feature his 36-yard touchdown run on 4th-and-1 in Ohio State’s 45-24 win over Oklahoma. It would show the 75-yard touchdown catch to open the second half against Nebraska. Samuel’s 74-yard touchdown scamper against Penn State would be on there, too.
And, oh yeah, remember that game-winning 15-yard touchdown run against Michigan in double overtime? That’s probably on Samuel’s hypothetical highlight reel multiple times.
There would be so many other plays on there as well in what has been a breakout season for the junior do-it-all offensive weapon for the Buckeyes. Samuel emerged as not only one of the Big Ten’s best players, but one of the most explosive players in all of college football this year.
But despite all of his success, the Brooklyn native isn’t really taking much time to reflect on his accomplishments this season — as impressive as they might be. Samuel, and Ohio State, have bigger things on their minds.
“I didn’t think about that at all,” Samuel said Tuesday after practice, the Buckeyes’ first since finding out they will face Clemson on Dec. 31. as part of the College Football Playoff. “After the season was over, the first thing I thought about was what our playoff hopes was like. When I saw we was in, I didn’t think about myself at all. I thought about the team and how we’re going to get better in 25 days.”
If Ohio State is going to beat Clemson in the Fiesta Bowl, Samuel figures to play a big part in that. He’s been as large a part of the Buckeyes’ offense this season as anybody, and he’s a player which Tigers’ defensive coordinator Brent Venables will need to game plan for specifically.
Samuel is Ohio State’s leading receiver on the year with 65 catches for 822 yards. He’s also the Buckeyes’ third-leading rusher with 704 yards on 91 carries (7.7 yards per rush). Samuel is the only player in the country with at least 700 rushing yards and 800 receiving yards. He scored 15 touchdowns this season, as well.
Coming into this season, Samuel’s role figured to expand, but not even he thought it would go exactly like it has.
“No, I actually didn’t expect to have this many receiving yards,” Samuel said with a laugh. “I thought I’d have less receiving yards and more rushing yards coming into the season, but I’m happy with it.”
So, too, are Ohio State fans who have grown accustomed to seeing Samuel shred opposing defenses with his big plays. Buckeye fans are hoping those continue in the Fiesta Bowl — and again next season.
As a junior, Samuel has the option to declare for the NFL Draft at the end of this season. As a hybrid running back/slot receiver, he’s viewed as an interesting prospect by scouts and NFL personnel.
Right now, though, Samuel said his attention is on the upcoming matchup with Clemson.
“I’m not really focused on that yet,” he said of his looming decision. “Whenever the season is done with, that’s when I’ll have time to think about what I’m going to do.”
Samuel will worry about his future when the time comes. For now, the focus is on chasing a national championship. That all begins with the game against the Tigers on New Year’s Eve.
“We’re back to grinding. We’re back to doing what we do,” Samuel said. “We’ve got a couple days to prepare so we’ve gotta get our bodies right and go back to the things we felt we lacked all season. Things move so fast during the season so we’ve gotta go back to our fundamental skills.”
Perhaps Samuel’s junior season highlight reel still has a few more plays that need to be added.
