Top players give their humble journeys as recruits all the way to the peak of football stardom.
San Francisco 49ers receiver
Deebo Samuel got a little choked up rekindling his high school days from
Chapman (Inman, S.C.) where he had 166 career catches and 2,751 yards. During Super Bowl LVI week in Los Angeles, Samuel was one of several current NFL stars who shared their prep memories with CBS Sports HQ.
"It's just crazy looking back at these old clips," Samuel said. "It brings back so many memories and reminds me of how many of these guys I still communicate with."
Samuel, whose given first name is Tyshun, said he still talks with his high school coach Mark Hodge almost weekly.
The versatile wide receiver, who also ran the ball for the 49ers this season, rushed for nearly 900 yards and 13 scores for the Panthers well before heading to the University of South Carolina. Samuel was ranked the No. 112th top receiver from the Class of 2014, according to 247Sports.
Like Samuel, Herbert was a three-star recruit, ranked the 26th best pro-style quarterback in the country from the Class of 2016. He attended
Sheldon (Eugene, Ore.) and played at Oregon and only had four college offers, the three others from Montana State, Northern Arizona and Portland State despite throwing for nearly 3,000 yards and 36 touchdowns as a senior.
Taylor was also a 3-star recruit out of
Salem (N.J.), where he rushed for a state-record 2,800 yards as a senior. He had seven college offers and picked WIsconsin over Rutgers, Albany, Army and Boston College. He was ranked the No. 24 running back in the nation from the Class of 2017.
Henry was at the opposite end of recruiting circles. He was the most prolific running back in high school history with 12,1247 yards to go along with 153 touchdowns at
Yulee (Fla.). The perennial All-Pro was a five-star recruit and the No. 1 athlete from the Class of 2013. He enrolled early at Alabama, one of 17 FBS schools that made him an offer.
Derrick Henry the night he broke the national career rushing yards vs. Taylor County on Nov. 16, 2012.
File photo by Gray Quetti
