Valparaiso University

2023 Team Newcomer of the Year
PFL Special Teams Player of the Week (Nov. 13, 2023) 

2024: Appeared in 11 games and made three starts… Registered 20 tackles including 13 solos, three tackles for loss and a pair of sacks… Had his first sack of the season on Sept. 21 vs. Roosevelt before notching his second on Oct. 19 vs. St. Thomas as part of a season-high six-tackle performance.

2023: Played in 10 games... Had three punt returns for 19 yards... Totaled four tackles... Blocked three kicks, tied for the fifth most in a single season in program history... Led the PFL and ranked third nationally in blocked kicks... Had his first blocked punt of the season on Sept. 30 vs. Southwest Minnesota State... Blocked two punts on Nov. 11 vs. Stetson, finishing the season as one of only eight players in the FCS nation with multiple blocked kicks in the same game... Named PFL Special Teams Player of the Week for his role in the win over the Hatters... Earned the team’s Newcomer of the Year Award.   

Prep: Three-year varsity letter winner... First team all-district honoree... Led the team with 76 tackles as a senior.... Also had 12 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and a pass breakup during his senior campaign... Also competed in basketball and track & field… Honor roll member.

Personal: Son of Mathias and Jennifer Samuel... Has a younger brother, Caleb, and a younger sister, Anna... Uncle played football at North Dakota State... Hobbies include hanging out with friends, playing video games and lifting weights... Started playing football his freshman year of high school.