He’s ready to take on the next challenge.
Curtis Samuel — the former Erasmus Hall football star who grabbed headlines for his play-making ability at Ohio State this season — declared for the National Football League on Jan. 9, announcing his decision on Twitter.
“I thank God for the opportunities that he has blessed me with, to put me in the situation I am in today,” Samuel wrote. “I have decided to realize my dream and enter the 2017 NFL Draft.”
Samuel, a junior, was the Buckeyes’ leading receiver and third-leading rusher this season, a dynamic offensive threat who always seemed to make good things happen whenever he touched the ball.
He averaged just under eight yards a carry, racking up 771 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground, while hauling in 74 receptions for 865 yards and seven receiving touchdowns. Samuel was the only player in college football with at least 700 yards receiving and rushing this season.
It’s an offensive performance that began while he was in a Dutchmen uniform, committing to Ohio State with a fierce determination to prove himself.
“I arrived in Columbus in 2014 as a Brooklyn boy excited for the opportunity of playing college football on the biggest stage,” Samuel wrote. “As I reflect on the past three years, I am very proud of our accomplishments.”
Overall, in three seasons at Ohio State, Samuel finished with 1,286 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground — in addition to 107 catches for 1,249 yards and nine scores through the air.
