Samuel vs. Samuels showcase set for Saturday at USC-NC State
It’s Samuel vs. Samuels at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday.
Well, kind of.
N.C. State’s Jaylen Samuels and South Carolina’s Deebo Samuel won’t share the field, but they share certain roles in their respective offenses and both figure to factor into how the game goes. One doesn’t have to do much more than mention Samuels’ name to hear USC’s Will Muschamp size up the challenge for his defense.
“They find very creative ways to hand him the ball, throw him the ball, toss him the ball,” Muschamp said. “He’s a very effective playmaker. I’ve got a lot of respect for him. I don’t know him personally, but when you have this much time to prepare, you watch a lot of tape. Certainly (I) really enjoy watching him play.”
Muschamp said a defensive staff has to be aware of where Samuels is and understand the why behind it. The hybrid tight end/slot receiver/running back led his team in receptions, scored six times on handoffs and factors in as a blocker in the running game.
But opposing defenses will have to give USC’s Samuel the same treatment.
The junior had a breakout season in 2016, ranking eighth in the SEC in yards and catches despite missing or being limited in four games. He also sees work at multiple spots.
Samuel could get more work in the slot this year. He’s a dynamic kickoff returner, and on the outside, he can outjump opponents despite not looking that tall and plays faster than his pure foot speed would suggest.
And the staff can get him running on the edge, rumbling behind a caravan of blockers on sweeps, where he ran for six touchdowns a season ago.
“Two No. 1s,” Wolfpack coach Dave Doeren said. “One Samuels, one Samuel, and they both do a lot on their offenses and their special teams.”
Third time’s the charm
South Carolina’s coaching staff has seen solid work from its nonscholarship quarterbacks through August camp, notably veteran Danny Gordon.
But the fourth-year junior may or may not be USC’s No. 3 quarterback this weekend, and there’s a calculation there.
“Jay Urich is going to travel, and Danny Gordon is a young man that’s done a nice job for us as well,” I think you ask yourself – and we have had the discussion – is it a long-term issue, or is it a short-term issue? That’s probably how I would answer the question.”
The implication is Urich, a scholarship true freshman out of Wren High, could be a contributor down the road, while Gordon’s best-case scenario is as emergency QB or maybe a backup.
Urich is more of a developmental passer who came to the position late but showed dual-threat promise in high school.
Not getting too high
Doeren isn’t showing too much pep about the chance to play in Charlotte.
He pointed out some of the fans might be excited, especially those living in the farther reaches of the state. It certainly helps with recruiting in the city, an emphasis for his staff and for South Carolina. But despite getting ready for the team’s third game there in seven years, he’s not getting too high.
“I don’t really care that much,” Doeren said. “It’s not a home game, so it’s a road game is how I’m looking at it. Geographically, they’re actually closer, I think, in mileage than we are.”
This story was originally published August 31, 2017 at 7:00 PM with the headline "Samuel vs. Samuels showcase set for Saturday at USC-NC State."