6/22/2016 football Edit

Older teammate of UK commit has staff's attention, will camp

Justin Rowland • CatsIllustrated

Publisher

Justin Rowland has been CatsIllustrated.com's publisher since 2015. He covered college football recruiting at programs nationwide for 15 years prior to that.

Joshua Samuel is the older teammate of 2018 UK commit Jarren Williams.

He's got the attention of the Kentucky coaching staff and will camp in Lexington next month in the hopes of earning an offer.

Samuel attends Central Gwinnett in Lawrenceville, Ga., and he rushed for 1,800 yards and 19 touchdowns as a junior.

With Williams transferring in from Shiloh, Ga., Samuel knows the offense is poised for big things in 2016. Williams already has an offer from Minnesota as well as interest from plenty of others.

The 6-foot, 205-pound back told Cats Illustrated this week that he's been in contact with the Kentucky coaches.

Linebackers coach and Peach State recruiter Matt House is the staff's point man when it comes to Samuel.

"He messaged me over Twitter and I gave him a call," Samuel said of House. "We ended up talking and he was just saying that he thinks I'm definitely an SEC back and he thinks I can provide a lot for that offense. He thinks I'd be a great back for the University of Kentucky."

While Samuel is still waiting on an offer from Kentucky he will have the opportunity to earn one, so his fate is in his own hands.

"They want me to come up there again," Samuel continued. "I previously visited there around February or March. I really liked it up there. (House) wants me to come up there again for a camp so I'll be there July 17.

"That would be a huge offer. It's the SEC and that's probably my favorite conference. That'd be a huge offer, to have the chance to play for the University of Kentucky."

Samuel is still getting to know Williams, his quarterback who recently transferred in to Central Gwinnett.

"We have a great relationship and we're on the field every day at practice together," he said. "Doing workouts, 7-on-7's and everything. We're just getting closer and closer and as the season comes I feel like we're going to have a great year."

Samuel describes himself as an all-around back rather than just a speed back or a power runner. He said he's shifty but also has the strength to break tackles.