Jaylen Samuels
refer to caption
Samuels with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2019
San Antonio Brahmas
Position:Running back
Personal information
Born: (1996-07-20) July 20, 1996
Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:225 lb (102 kg)
Career information
High school:Mallard Creek
(Charlotte, North Carolina)
College:NC State (2014–2017)
NFL Draft:2018 / Round: 5 / Pick: 165
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Rushing yards:468
Rushing average:3.4
Rushing touchdowns:1
Receptions:85
Receiving yards:564
Receiving touchdowns:4
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Jaylen Samuels (born July 20, 1996) is an American football running back for the San Antonio Brahmas of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at North Carolina State University.

Early years

Samuels attended and played high school football at Mallard Creek High School. While there, he played at the safety position.[1][2]

College career

Throughout his college career at North Carolina State, Samuels changed positions, being listed as a running back, fullback, wide receiver and tight end. Best described as a more traditional slotback or H-back.[3][4] He scored a touchdown in the 2014 St. Petersburg Bowl.[5] After his junior season, Samuels was able to participate in the 2016 Independence Bowl against Vanderbilt, where he caught three touchdown passes, the most in Independence Bowl history. Due to his contribution, he was named the MVP of the Independence Bowl.[6] During his senior season, Samuels set the NC State record for career receptions with 201 during his four years.[7] After this season, Samuels was invited to the 2018 Senior Bowl.[8] Following his senior season, he was honored as First Team All-Atlantic Coast Conference as an "All-Purpose" player as well as Third Team Associated Press All-American as a tight end. He finished his college career with 1,851 receiving yards, 1,107 rushing yards, and 47 total touchdowns.[9]

Collegiate statistics

Year School Conf Class Pos G Receiving Rushing
Rec Yds Avg TD Att Yds Avg TD
2014 NC State ACC FR TE 11 6 96 16.0 1 15 143 9.5 1
2015 NC State ACC SO TE 13 65 597 9.2 7 56 368 6.6 9
2016 NC State ACC JR TE 13 55 565 10.3 7 33 189 5.7 6
2017 NC State ACC SR TE 13 75 593 7.9 4 78 407 5.2 12
Career NC State 50 201 1,851 9.2 19 182 1,107 6.1 28

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jumpBench press
5 ft 11+1⁄2 in
(1.82 m)		 225 lb
(102 kg)		 31+3⁄8 in
(0.80 m)		 9+1⁄4 in
(0.23 m)		4.54 s1.63 s2.68 s4.28 s6.93 s34+1⁄2 in
(0.88 m)		10 ft 1 in
(3.07 m)		18 reps
All values from NFL Combine[10]

Pittsburgh Steelers

2018

The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Samuels in the fifth round with the 165th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.[11] Samuels was the 14th running back drafted in 2018.[12] On May 9, 2018, the Pittsburgh Steelers signed Samuels to a four-year, $2.71 million contract that includes a signing bonus of $258,066.[13][14]

Due to a Week 13 injury to starter James Conner, Samuels earned his first career NFL start in Week 14 against the Oakland Raiders. In the game, Samuels rushed for 28 yards on 11 attempts and caught seven passes for 64 yards in a 24–21 loss.[15] The following week against the New England Patriots, Samuels rushed 19 times for 142 yards and caught two passes for 30 yards in a 17–10 win.[16] His 142 rushing yards marked the second most by a rookie in Steelers history, behind only Bam Morris, who rushed for 146 yards against the New York Giants in 1994.[17] He finished the 2018 season with 56 carries for 256 rushing yards to go along with 26 receptions for 199 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns in 14 games.[18]

2019

In Week 4 against the Cincinnati Bengals, Samuels completed three passes for 31 yards, rushed 10 times for 26 yards and a touchdown, and caught eight passes for 57 yards in the 27–3 win.[19] After missing two games due to a knee injury, Samuels returned to action in Week 9 against the Indianapolis Colts. In the game, Samuels rushed eight times for 10 yards and recorded 13 catches for 73 yards in the 26–24 win. Samuels's 13 catches in the game was a franchise record for catches by a running back in a game, surpassing LeVeon Bell's 12 catches in a game in 2017.[20] Overall, Samuels finished the 2019 season with 175 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown to go along with 47 receptions for 305 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown.[21]

2020

Samuels was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the Steelers on August 2, 2020.[22] He was activated from the list on August 13.[23] He was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list again on November 10,[24] and activated again four days later.[25] He appeared in 14 games and started one in the 2020 season.[26]

2021

On August 31, 2021, Samuels was waived by the Steelers as part of final roster cuts and re-signed to the practice squad the next day.[27][28] He was released on October 27.[29]

Houston Texans

On October 29, 2021, Samuels was signed to the Houston Texans practice squad.[30] Samuels finished the 2021 season with appearances in three games.[31]

Arizona Cardinals

On January 19, 2022, Samuels signed a reserve/future contract with the Arizona Cardinals.[32] He was released on May 31, 2022.[33]

Houston Roughnecks

On December 8, 2023, Samuels signed with the Houston Roughnecks of the XFL.[34] The Roughnecks brand was transferred to the Houston Gamblers when the XFL and United States Football League merged to create the United Football League (UFL).[35]

San Antonio Brahmas

On January 8, 2024, Samuels was drafted by the San Antonio Brahmas of the UFL.[36]

References

  1. ↑ "Jaylen Samuels, Mallard Creek , Safety". 247Sports. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
  2. ↑ Cowart, C. Jackson (July 13, 2017). "Ex-Mallard Creek star Jaylen Samuels is creating new positions with NC State". The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
  3. ↑ Cowart, C. Jackson (July 13, 2017). "Ex-Mallard Creek star Jaylen Samuels is creating new positions with NC State". Carlotte Observer. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
  4. ↑ Giglio, Joe (August 24, 2016). "Jaylen Samuels does it all for NC State". News & Observer. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
  5. ↑ "Pack Wins 2014 Bitcoin St. Petersburg Bowl, 34–27". NC State University Athletics. December 27, 2014. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  6. ↑ "N.C. State dismantles Vanderbilt, 41–17, to win the Independence Bowl". ABC 11 Eyewitness News. December 26, 2016. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
  7. ↑ Giglio, Joe (December 28, 2017). "Jaylen Samuels didn't fit the mold. Now he could break an NCSU football record". News & Observer. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
  8. ↑ Muma, Steven (December 11, 2017). "Jaylen Samuels is 3rd NC State player to accept Senior Bowl invite". Backing The Pack. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Jaylen Samuels College Stats". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
  10. ↑ "NFL Draft Profile: Jaylen Samuels". NFL.com. Retrieved December 17, 2018.
  11. ↑ "2018 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  12. ↑ Hartman, Jeff (April 28, 2018). "2018 NFL Draft Results: Pittsburgh Steelers select RB Jaylen Samuels with fifth round pick". Behind The Steel Curtain. Retrieved July 4, 2018. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  13. ↑ Rutter, Joe (May 9, 2018). "Steelers sign 5th-rounder Jaylen Samuels to 4-year deal". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  14. ↑ "Spotrac.com: Jaylen Samuels contract". Spotrac.com. Retrieved December 17, 2018.
  15. ↑ "Pittsburgh Steelers at Oakland Raiders – December 9th, 2018". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
  16. ↑ "New England Patriots at Pittsburgh Steelers – December 16th, 2018". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
  17. ↑ Chester, Simon (December 22, 2018). "RB Jaylen Samuels wins Rookie of the Week honors for game against Patriots". Behind the Steel Curtain. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
  18. ↑ "Jaylen Samuels 2018 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Steelers break out of funk, stomp Bengals 27–3". ESPN.com. Associated Press. September 30, 2019. Retrieved September 30, 2019.
  20. ↑ "Vinatieri misses late, Steelers edge Colts 26–24". ESPN.com. Associated Press. November 3, 2019. Retrieved November 3, 2019.
  21. ↑ "Jaylen Samuels 2019 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
  22. ↑ Varley, Teresa (August 2, 2020). "Samuels, Washington placed on reserve/COVID-19 list". Steelers.com. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  23. ↑ Varley, Teresa (August 13, 2020). "Samuels activated from reserve/COVID-19 list". Steelers.com. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  24. ↑ Varley, Teresa (November 10, 2020). "Steelers place four more on Reserve/COVID-19 List". Steelers.com. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  25. ↑ Varley, Teresa (November 14, 2020). "Steelers activate four from Reserve/COVID-19 List". Steelers.com. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  26. ↑ "Jaylen Samuels 2020 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  27. ↑ Varley, Teresa (August 31, 2021). "Steelers make moves to get to 53". Steelers.com. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  28. ↑ Varley, Teresa (September 1, 2021). "Steelers add 15 to practice squad". Steelers.com. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  29. ↑ Saunders, Alan (August 31, 2021). "Steelers Release Veteran RB Jaylen Samuels". Steelers Now. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  30. ↑ "Houston Texans Transactions (10-29-2021)". HoustonTexans.com. October 29, 2021. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  31. ↑ "Jaylen Samuels 2021 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  32. ↑ Urban, Darren (January 19, 2022). "Cardinals Sign 15 Players To 'Futures' Contracts". AZCardinals.com. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  33. ↑ Urban, Darren (May 31, 2022). "Cardinals Add Darrel Williams To Running Back Room". AZCardinals.com. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  34. ↑ "XFL Transactions". www.xfl.com. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  35. ↑ Seifert, Kevin (January 1, 2024). "Newly formed United Football League sets 8 markets, tabs coaches". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  36. ↑ "UFL - Team Rosters". www.theufl.com. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
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