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| Photo Credit: Craig Keogh
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Eric Samuels
Defensive Back
6'0"
185
Umatilla High School
Eustis, Fla.
HIGH SCHOOL Senior captain... Three-year starter at running back and defensive back... Team's leading rusher (627 yards), receiver and scorer (11 TDs) as senior... Contributed 43 total tackles and three INTs as DB in 2008... Team's offensive MVP as junior and senior... Two-time All-Area selection... Posted an INT in recent Central Florida All-Star Game... As junior, ran for 962 yards and 10 TDs while posting seven INTs... Two-year starter as guard on basketball team... District 200-meter champion in track as junior, qualifying for 2A state meet with personal bests of 10.89 (100) and 22.24 (200).
PERSONAL Eric Damon Samuels Jr... Son of Eric Samuels and Tina Quashie... Has two brothers and a younger sister... Born May 9, 1991... Elected as school's homecoming king... Earned faculty's Top Ten Student honor and school's highest student-athlete award... Lives near Commodore freshman WR Akeem Dunham... Likes to hang out with friends.
UMATILLA HEAD COACH RON TIMSON
"Eric was probably our most outstanding player for the last four years. That's about all I need to say. He was our multi-purpose guy on offense, our top rusher and receiver. He played great as a defensive back and was our best return guy. He gave us 48 minutes a game.
"Eric carries his pads as well as anybody I've been around. When he gets in the open field, he just really looks great.
"Eric has a great deal of integrity. We've struggled a little bit and Eric could have transferred, but he stayed to see it through. He's a guy committed to his team, school and community."
RETURN TO 2009 SIGNING DAY CENTRAL
