Syracuse Orange football head coach Fran Brown had extremely high praise for 16-year-old Demetres Samuel Jr. He is also already drawing comparisons to arguably one of the best college football players of all time, Travis Hunter.
Similar to Hunter, Samuel Jr. is expected to impact on both sides of the ball, playing cornerback and wide receiver. As a matter of fact, Samuel Jr. was named by head coach Fran Brown as the team’s “potential” starting quarterback next season as a true freshman.
Who is Demetres Samuel Jr.?
However, Brown says that Samuel Jr. should be given patience. He notes that Samuel Jr.’s two-way dominance could take some time to develop. The Florida native is already defying expectations, and he’s not even 17 years old yet. He was a four-star recruit in the Class of 2025, leaving Heritage High School more than a year early to enroll at Syracuse.
Fran Brown shares that 16-year-old (!!) Demetres Samuel Jr. is likely to start at cornerback
There’s also plans to play him on the offensive side of the ball as well
— Unnecessary Roughness (@UnnecRoughness) March 31, 2025
Now, at just 16 years old, Samuel Jr. is already projected to be the starting cornerback while also seeing significant snaps as a wide receiver. Standing at 6-foot-1 and weighing in at 190 pounds, Brown sees something very special in Samuel Jr. and the excitement around him and his potential is truly undeniable.
Samuel Jr., who will be turning 17 this week, was one of the best defensive back recruits in his class. He ranked as a Top-20 player at his position and a Top-250 prospect nationally. Samuel Jr. originally committed to the Florida Gators, but he flipped to play football at the Orange.
He received 26 scholarship offers from some of the best schools around today, like the Alabama Crimson Tide, the Texas A&M Aggies, and the Auburn Tigers. However, Samuel Jr. will be heading to upstate New York to perform in the shadow of the Big Apple.
Syracuse’s head coach is very excited to have Samuel Jr. in New York. He says that Samuel’s youth only adds to his already massive ceiling. While Hunter may have set the precedent, players like Samuel Jr. will be continuing the impressive two-way play.
“He could be in high school probably becoming the No. 1 player in the country next year or Top 10,” says Brown. “He’s doing a hell of a job at 16 years old, competing with guys at another level.”
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Brow also adds that Samuel Jr. will be a “sight to see for three years in college.” It’s safe to say that Syracuse could have landed arguably one of the best players in college football, depending on how Samuel Jr. develops. But to say his ceiling is high would be an understatement.
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