Video: O'maury Samuels's highlights vs. Artesia High School
The Los Lunas standout is headed to play for Jim Harbaugh at Michigan.
One year ago,
O'maury Samuels was a virtual unknown on the national radar of Division I college football coaches. However, that was before he attended The Opening Regional Camp sponsored by Nike in Dallas on March 13 and from that day on the entire football world knew his name.
All the 5-foot-11, 195-pound running back from
Los Lunas, did was amass the nation's top score of 142.1 points at the camp. Despite coming off a recent hamstring injury, Samuels ran 40 yards in 4.58 seconds and displayed a 44.5-inch vertical jump during testings. His only previous offer had been from New Mexico State, but 20 more offers quickly were received. Now his future is at national powerhouse Michigan.
Visit our
New Mexico National Signing Day page to see the names, rankings and
high school of all the Texas players who signed or did not sign
Wednesday. You can sort it out by divisions as well, breaking down to
even smaller levels.
*Samuels is the lone 4-Star recruit in New Mexico, which has three others at the 3-Star level.
New Mexico Military Institute (Roswell) graduate
Jordan Ta'amu signed with Ole Miss after starring for Pearl City in Hawaii. The 6-3, 200-pounder is the No. 3-ranked dual-threat quarterback from the junior college ranks.
*New Mexico Military Institute also has a second recruit, defensive end
Nate Anderson, who is headed for Missouri. The Toronto native is 6-3 and 255 pounds. Former NFL great Roger Staubach also played his first year of college football at New Mexico Military Institute before transferring to the Naval Academy.
*Another 3-Star recruit,
Volcano Vista (Albuquerque) wide receiver/safety
David Cormier, has chosen the Air Force Academy. The 6-3, 207-pounder, who always wanted to be a member of the military, played in the Blue Grey All-American Bowl at Cowboys Stadium.
*Class 6A state champion
Rio Rancho had five recruits sign, including 2-Star running back
Josh Foley, who picked New Mexico State. The others signed with smaller schools.
*New Mexico State signed three other 2-Star recruits: Los Lunas linebacker/tight end
Trevor Brohard,
Mayfield (Las Cruces) wide receiver/corner back
Gaven Swinson and
Onate (Las Cruces) linebacker/fullback
Matthew Young.
Mayfield (Las Cruces) running back/safety
Isaac Vance signed with Kent State, Unranked Onate linebacker
Forest McKee, who signed with UTEP, made it four players from Las Cruces to go Division I.
*UTEP was the only Division I school to offer McKee a scholarship. He was a Class 6A All-State linebacker with 167 tackles, including 15 for losses, but the 6-1, 235-pounder may be used more at fullback in the future.
