Syracuse commit Demetres Samuel has been compared to two-way phenom Travis Hunter – and he turned down 26 schools to commit to the Orange.
Hunter was a revelation for Colorado in college football last season. He played an astounding 120.3 snaps per game, appearing on both sides of the ball en route to winning the Heisman Trophy.
Lining up at receiver, Hunter hauled in 92 passes for 1,152 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns, averaging 12.5 yards per reception. He also rushed for five yards on two carries and a score, averaging 2.5 yards per carry. On defense, he was tied for No. 5 nationally in passes defended with four interceptions and 11 pass breakups to stand as arguably the most intriguing prospect in the draft.
Now, Syracuse hopes to have the next Hunter in Samuel. A four-star recruit, the 17-year-old safety was ranked as a top-20 player at his position, a top-40 player in the state, and a top-250 player overall. The 6-foot-1 starlet departed high school ahead of schedule to enroll at Syracuse in time to participate in spring practice.
After starring at Heritage High School in Florida, Samuel received 26 scholarship offers during the college recruiting process. He received offers from Alabama, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Michigan State, Nebraska, Kentucky, and Auburn and initially committed to play for the Gators – but ultimately decided to flip and signed with Syracuse.
Syracuse head coach coach Fran Brown expects him to start at cornerback in the fall and he’s excited to see what Samuel can do. He is going to put the teenager on the field as much as possible as a safety and receiver.
Freshman Demetres Samuel Jr. wearing the unique white jersey with blue pinny combo. He’ll be practicing both ways throughout spring.
Could SU have college football’s next Travis Hunter?@DOsports pic.twitter.com/Nossk4S0xE
— Aiden Stepansky (@AidenStepansky) March 22, 2025
“He’s gonna play both ways,” Brown said. “It seems like he’ll have an opportunity as starting corner. He should be our starting corner and rotate in and out as receiver. He’s a freak, right? Freak athlete.”
Given Samuel is supposed to be a senior in high school next season, Brown is delighted with his progress. He added: “He could be in high school probably becoming the No. 1 player in the country next year or top 10. He’s doing a hell of a job at 16 years old, competing with guys at another level.”
Remarkably, the Syracuse coaching staff believes Samuel is so talented he will declare for the NFL Draft at the conclusion of his junior season. This means Samuel would go pro as a two-way star at 20 years old in the 2028 NFL Draft.
It will be interesting to see where Hunter lands in the NFL Draft later this month. Perhaps it is a preview for Samuel’s future, if all goes to plan.
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