Michigan Football Signee Bio: RB O'maury Samuels

• At Nike’s The Opening regional camp in Dallas last spring, recorded a 4.45-second 40-yard dash and a 4.14-second 20-yard shuttle. Also posted a 2017 running back-best 44.5-inch vertical jump and had a 43.0-foot power throw. His testing earned him an outstanding Nike+ Football Rating of 142.41.

• As a senior, rushed 160 times for 1,376 yards (8.6 per carry) and 14 touchdowns. Also had two receptions for 23 yards and a touchdown, and returned a kickoff for a score.

• In his junior season, totaled 185 carries for 1,468 yards (7.9 a rush) and 21 touchdowns, and eight receptions for 92 yards and two TDs. Returned six kickoffs for 186 yards and one score. He also lost four fumbles.

• As a sophomore, compiled 187 carries for 1,397 yards (7.5 a rush) and 14 touchdowns, and had three catches for 55 yards and a TD. On special teams had two kickoff returns for 150 yards with one touchdown. Lost three fumbles during the season.

• Posted 27 carries for 65 yards and one touchdown, and had one reception for two yards in his freshman season.

• USA Today All-USA New Mexico first-team selection as a senior and second-team pick as a junior.

• First-team New Mexico High School Coaches Association 5A All-State in his final two seasons, and was a second-team pick as a sophomore.

• Was invited to and attended Nike’s The Opening Finals in Beaverton, Ore.

• Committed April 4, 2016.

• When Michigan offered Samuels on the heels of his explosive Nike+ Football score, his only other offers were from New Mexico State and UTSA.

• Officially visited Arizona (Oct. 28, 2016) and Michigan (Dec. 10, 2016) where he reaffirmed his commitment.

• Former running backs Tyrone Wheatley was heavily involved in recruiting Samuels, and now new running backs coach Jay Harbaugh has picked right up with the New Mexico native.

• Born June 18, 1999.

• Missed two games his senior season with a sprained ankle.

No one is expecting Samuels to contribute much in 2017 but no one thought Chris Evans, would in 2016 either. Samuels has the build, athleticism and speed to be a contributor. However, the running back stable is young and talented with Evans, Karan Higdon, and potentially Kareem Walker. Unless Samuels stands out during fall camp, he’ll likely be able to take a redshirt year.

NMPreps.com Publisher Kyle Henderson: "I've known about O'maury for a while, and I’ve been harping about him since his sophomore year. The first time that I saw him he looked the part. He looked like an NFL-type player already, and this was back when he was probably only 15 years old.

“He came out to one of our annual combines here in New Mexico and as a sophomore he had a standing broad jump of nearly 10 feet, which is just extraordinary. He was probably already a 4.4-4.5 guy at that time too.

“I’m very eager to see how he transitions to the Division I level because he seems to be getting better still."

Los Lunas (N.M.) High Head Coach Terrell Trantham: “When he went to that Nike Combine his numbers jumped out at everybody and immediately put him in the spotlight. But we’ve been around him for the last couple of years, and he’s always the fastest, biggest, strongest guy we see. He's a physical freak.

“People around here have known he was the real deal for a while. Teams on our schedule certainly know about him and plan for him.

“I didn’t really realize that his numbers were so freaky. Once that happened his profile hit another level. I think the big thing is that he’s still improving as a running back.

“When he’s able to transition to a system where there’s a running backs coach who only focuses on that, and they watch film together and grow together as a position group, I think he’ll go to another level.”