Brooklyn’s Samuel headed to NFL draft

TAMPA, Fla. — Curtis Samuel defied the odds as a New York City skill position player excelling at the highest level of college football at Ohio State. Now the Brooklyn native is looking to make it on Sundays.

The Buckeyes hybrid wide receiver/running back declared for the NFL draft on Monday, forgoing his final year of eligibility, a decision some felt could’ve gone either way.

A first-team All-American by the Sporting News and Associated Press, Samuel announced the decision on Twitter early Monday afternoon, thanking everyone — from coaches to friends and family to fans — in a long message. He ended it by writing, “I have to decided to realize my dream enter the 2017 NFL Draft.”

He specifically singled out Ohio State coach Urban Meyer, who made the non-traditional move of going into Brooklyn to recruit a rare offensive skill position player from the city.

“Coach Meyer and I have the strongest bond,” Samuel wrote. “I am extremely thankful for everything he has done for me. He has helped develop me into the player and Man I am today.”

After spending his first two seasons backing up Ezekiel Elliott at Ohio State, Samuel emerged as one of the nation’s premier playmakers, the only player in the country to produce 700 yards receiving and 700 yards rushing. The 5-foot-11, 197pound Samuel notched a teamleading 15 touchdowns, eight on the ground and seven through the air, catching 74 passes — the most by a Buckeye receiver since David Boston’s 85 in 1998 — for 865 yards and running for 771 yards.

He helped the Buckeyes go 11-2 and reach the College Football Playoff for the second time in three seasons. He also scored the game-winning touchdown in the dramatic double-overtime victory over archrival Michigan.

NFL Network draft analyst Charles Davis sees him as a potential third-round pick, if not higher.