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Is 1,000 & 1,000 Still Within Reach for Curtis Samuel?

+5 HS
buckeye phi's picture
November 8, 2016 at 9:49am
46 Comments

About a month ago 11W's Eric Seger did an article on Curtis Samuel - focusing on whether he may have a chance to reach 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving in a single season. 

After his performance Saturday night vs Nebraska, I thought it might be interesting to take another look - and see whether that goal is still a real possibility or not. 

So, after nine games Samuel has 599 yards rushing and 676 yards receiving.   The Buckeyes will play at least four more games (including a bowl game) - and could play as many as six more if they play for the conference championship, qualify for the play-off and win their first match-up. 

It's highly unlikely he's going to average 100 yards on the ground the rest of the way - but if he has six games left to play, the 67 yards per game he'd need  would seem to be within reach.

At the pace he's on, he could get dangerously close to the receiving yards he'd need to reach 1,000 by the end of the regular season.  Confidence is high he'll reach that mark before all is said and done. 

Of course, this is particularly significant because no player has ever reached the 1,000 yard mark in both rushing and receiving in a single season in major college football history. 

There may be added significance this season because other than the front runner (Louisville's Lamar Jackson), the Heisman field appears to be wide open.  Could be the perfect year for a unique talent like Samuel to slip in if Jackson slips up. 

He may not have actually reached either goal by the time the Heisman vote takes place - but being on pace may be enough - if enough of the other factors fall in to place.

Looking at Ohio State's remaining regular season opponents, he could really pad those stats as soon as this week - verses Maryland.  Naturally, the two teams he'll face after that - Michigan State and Michigan - should pose tougher challenges. 

By the way, the assumption here is that if Samuel is even close to that goal at the end of the regular season, the Buckeyes will probably have won those games.  The most important consideration.

So what do you think?  Can Samuel reach those lofty numbers?  And if so, will a record setting season of that nature be enough to make him a serious contender for the Heisman?  Plus, how unstoppable might this team be if the offense becomes as consistent (and balanced) as the defense?

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