Tag: Dan Samuelson

Dan Samuelson, Ex-Wolverine

Dan Samuelson

Redshirt sophomore offensive guard Dan Samuelson has decided to transfer. I had ranked him at #79 (LINK) in the 2015 Season Countdown, so you can see I was not counting on him to be a major factor this year. When he flipped from Nebraska to Michigan in January of 2013, I gave him a TTB Rating of 65 (LINK). I did not see him as the caliber of player that Michigan should have been recruiting at that stage, and I had been hoping that the Wolverines would be able to reel in Cameron Hunt, who eventually signed with Oregon and has been a two-year starter for the Ducks, including seven games as a true freshman.

Michigan took six offensive linemen in that 2013 class, and Samuelson is the third to leave, joining Kyle Bosch (now at West Virginia) and Chris Fox (now on medical scholarship). That monster offensive line class has now been whittled down to David Dawson, Patrick Kugler, and Logan Tuley-Tillman, none of whom have made an impact yet. But out of 27 signees in that cycle, only four have left so far – those three linemen and wide receiver Csont’e York, who got into some legal trouble in Ann Arbor.

With three open scholarships and thirteen seniors scheduled to graduate following the upcoming season, Michigan’s 2016 class technically has 16 spots right now.

2015 Season Countdown: #79 Dan Samuelson

Dan Samuelson (image via AnnArbor.com)

Name: Dan Samuelson
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 289 lbs.
High school: Plymouth (IN) Plymouth
Position: Offensive guard
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #74
Last year: I ranked Samuelson #77 and said he would be a backup offensive guard. He did not see any game action.

Samuelson was 282 lbs. last season and did not work his way into the rotation. Michigan also didn’t have many chances to play the backups, anyway. In practices and such, he has consistently been essentially the last lineman into the rotation. Whether it’s a function of size, talent, or the combination of the two, significant playing time does not appear to be looming.

Michigan has several returning starters on the offensive line this year, and there are some backups that seem to be far ahead of Samuelson. He has seen some reps at tackle, too, but either way he is only likely to see the field in blowout situations or if there are several injuries.

Prediction: Backup offensive guard

2014 Season Countdown: #77 Dan Samuelson

Dan Samuelson (image via Scout)

Name: Dan Samuelson
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 282 lbs.
High school: Plymouth (IN) Plymouth
Position: Offensive guard
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #74
Last year: I ranked Samuelson #92 and said he would redshirt. He redshirted.

It’s not very often that freshman linemen play, so Samuelson’s redshirt last year should not have surprised anyone. After his freshman year, however, he is still listed at just 282 lbs. Aside from the fact that Michigan has a fair number of players with experience, offensive guards in the Big Ten have to weigh more than 282 lbs. Samuelson looked thin in the spring game, and he also needs to continue working on pass protection. He was a third-stringer in April, and I see no reason why he would rise any higher by fall. Two of his classmates have inched ahead of him (Kyle Bosch and David Dawson), so it may be a few years before Samuelson gets a real shot.

Prediction: Backup offensive guard

2013 Season Countdown: #92 Dan Samuelson

Dan Samuelson (#74)

Name: Dan Samuelson
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 290 lbs.
High school: Plymouth (IN) Plymouth
Position: Offensive guard
Class: Freshman
Jersey number: N/A
Last year: Samuelson was a senior in high school. I gave him a TTB Rating of 59.

Samuelson was once committed to Pitt. Then Nebraska. Then Michigan. If his measurements were accurate coming out of high school, he has the size to be an early impact player. However, he lacks experience in a pro-style blocking system and some refinement when it comes to both run and pass blocking. As you might have discovered via my TTB Ratings, I think Samuelson is the least talented of Michigan’s six incoming freshman linemen, but he does have some potential. Since freshman linemen usually redshirt, I think it’s very likely that he stays on the sideline this year.

Prediction: Redshirt

Poll results: Who will be the best offensive lineman in the 2013 class?

Wexford (PA) North Allegheny center Patrick Kugler

Patrick Kugler: 63%
The freshman from Wexford (PA) North Allegheny played in the Under Armour All-American Game.  According to the 247 Composite rankings, he’s a 4-star, the #68 player nationally, and the country’s top center.  He will enroll at Michigan in June and potentially be a backup to whoever wins the starting center job this spring.  His father is a former professional offensive line coach who is now UTEP’s head football coach.


Kyle Bosch: 19%
Bosch is a 6’5″, 307 lb. player who enrolled in January.  He attended Wheaton (IL) St. Francis and was 247 Composite’s #3 offensive guard and #87 overall prospect.  In spring practice videos, he has appeared to be running with the second team at offensive guard.  He may factor into the playing rotation in the fall.


David Dawson: 12%
The Detroit (MI) Cass Tech prospect stands 6’4″ and 280 lbs.  He’s the 247 Composite’s #4 offensive guard – one spot below Bosch – and their #95 player overall.  Dawson also played in the Under Armour All-American Game.


Chris Fox and Logan Tuley-Tillman: 1% (tie)
Fox comes from Parker (CO) Ponderosa, while Tuley-Tillman hails from Peoria (IL) Manual; they were selected for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl and the Under Armour game, respectively, although Fox was unable to participate due to a knee injury.  Fox stands 6’6″ and 300 lbs. and was recruited to play tackle, while Tuley-Tillman enrolled in January and has been practicing at left offensive tackle, standing 6’7″ and 285 lbs.  Fox was 247 Composite’s #5 offensive guard and #111 overall player, and Tuley-Tillman was the #12 offensive tackle and #167 player overall.


Dan Samuelson: 0%
Plymouth (IN) Plymouth offensive guard Samuelson stands 6’5″ and 290 lbs.  According to the 247 Composite rankings, he’s the #21 offensive guard and #414 overall player in the nation.