When preseason camp opens in less than two weeks, Syracuse has a two-way weapon ready to pick up right where he left off.
Samuel’s 2025 season started to catch fire as the year went on, and that late surge was good enough to land him fourth in ACC Rookie Defensive Player of the Year balloting. Since then, he’s spent the winter and summer building his strength, speed and agility, with spring football mixed in along the way.
Now he’s heading into a new year with a new look around him. Syracuse’s defensive starting lineup has several fresh faces, and Samuel is part of that group as the Orange brings in a trio of new position coaches along with coordinator Vince Kehres.
The idea of using Samuel on both sides of the ball fits neatly into the way Fran Brown views roster building. Brown has shown an open mind about getting his best “freak” athletes on the field, and Samuel is part of that approach this season along with junior Jamie Tremble, who moved from tight end to linebacker.
That kind of versatility has long had a place in Syracuse football history. The school’s No. 44 tradition runs through Jim Brown, Ernie Davis and Floyd Little, all of whom did more than star as Hall of Fame running backs during the 1950-65 stretch. And once college football rules changed in 1965 to allow unlimited substitutions, the old two-way player became a rarity as offensive and defensive rosters split apart.
In the Dome era, the most memorable Syracuse two-way burst came from Diamond Ferri in the 2004 upset of Boston College that helped the Orange win a share of the Big East title. Ferri rushed for 141 yards and two touchdowns when injuries forced him into action at running back, then added a pick-six on defense.
Samuel spent the offseason thinking along those same lines, weighing how he could help Syracuse in more than one way. He worked to sharpen his game under new defensive backs coach Perry Eliano and assistants Brandon Napoleon and Marcus Walker, while also getting time at wide receiver with Josh Gatis.
At last week’s ACC Kickoff preseason media event in Charlotte, Samuel made it clear he’s not planning to stay in one lane.
"You can expect m to shut down the whole side of the field," Samul jokingly said with his big smile at last week's ACC Kickoff preseason media event in Charlotte.
"But I am definitely going to be making some plays on offense and defense. Scoring touchdowns on punt returns, interceptions with (a pick-six).
Just being a leader, making sure the defense is playing right. You'll definitely see some big plays out of me."
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Syracuse also made the first move in July, when offensive coordinator Jeff Nixon extended Johnstones first college offer and signaled real belief in his upside. For a program trying to build momentum with New York talent, that kind of early attention carries weight, and Johnstones positive view of Syracuse only adds to the intrigue as his recruitment starts to take shape. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse 2027 Recruiting Board Is Starting To Reveal McNamaras Priorities
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The picture is still fluid, which is part of what makes this stretch important for Syracuse. The fall recruiting period should bring more clarity on who the staff is pushing hardest, and the Orange are also working to line up trips for a few prospects who have not yet locked in plans. With McNamara and his staff continuing to evaluate options and stay active on the trail, the board is starting to show where the priorities may eventually land. [Read more 🡒]