Curtis Samuel gives Panthers dynamic offensive playmaker to pair with Christian McCaffrey

The Carolina Panthers got a versatile offensive playmaker when they drafted Ohio State’s Curtis Samuel with the 40th overall pick.

Samuel was the H-back in Urban Meyer’s offense, which is essentially a hybrid receiver and running back. Meyer’s approach, which we’ve seen with guys like Percy Harvin during his Florida tenure and Braxton Miller in 2015, is to get the ball in the hands of his most dynamic offensive weapon. That was definitely Samuel last year for the Buckeyes.

It’s unlikely that Samuel will fill an identical role in the pros, because at 5’11 and 196 pounds, he lacks ideal size for it. He’s talented and versatile, and can be a spark for the Panthers’ offense.

He was the only player from a major college program to exceed 700 yards rushing and receiving last season. Samuel finished last season with 865 receiving yards and seven touchdowns, as well as 771 yards on the ground and eight rushing touchdowns. His efforts earned him an All-American nod and first-team All-Big Ten honors.

Samuel’s performance against archrival Michigan last season was the best example of how dangerous he can be with the ball in his hands. He won the game for the Buckeyes in double overtime, displaying great vision on this 15-yard touchdown run.

This was the moment that officially won the game for the Buckeyes, but Samuel set up the win earlier in that second overtime period when Ohio State trailed by three points. Samuel showed remarkable patience as he turned a screen pass that should have ended behind the line of scrimmage on third-and-9 into an 8-yard gain.

Quarterback J.T. Barrett was able to get the first down on a quarterback sneak on fourth-and-1, and Samuel scored on the next play. He did all of this in Ohio State’s biggest game of the regular season.

This is the million-dollar question. Samuel’s best fit at the next level is as a slot receiver, but he’s demonstrated that he can be prolific as a receiver and on the ground. He could be used as a multi-dimensional offensive weapon.

Samuel worked out with the receivers at the combine, but he said he’s not just a receiver.

“I can’t say I feel like a full-time receiver still, just because of my running back background,” Samuel said. “I love to run the ball. I love to catch. I’d say I’m both. I’m still a hybrid.”

His speed helps, no matter how he gets the ball in his hands. Samuel was the third-fastest player at the NFL Combine, with a 4.31-second 40-yard dash.

He used that speed to shred defenses while at Ohio State, and he can do the same in the NFL, too. It’s not just straight-line speed for Samuel. He has lateral quickness in and out of his breaks, and his stutter step can leave defenders on their heels.

He’s dangerous in space, and SB Nation’s Bill Connelly ranked Samuel as the fourth-best third-down back in college football last year.

His speed and explosiveness came into play during his two seasons returning kicks for the Buckeyes. That’s a role he could also play at the NFL level.

Samuel’s talent is undeniable, but he’s undersized. That may present some challenges against press coverage. As a ball carrier, it’s part of the reason Samuel was featured so often on sweeps with the Buckeyes. He’s much more of a threat once he gets into space.

He’s not the most natural receiver and needs to improve his technique. Samuel had a tendency to catch the ball against his body in college as opposed to looking it into his hands.

One of the biggest adjustments for running backs in the transition from college to the NFL is often becoming a proficient blocker. Samuel wasn’t called upon to block at Ohio State very much, so he’ll likely have some ground to make up there.