The Washington Commanders have officially acquired Deebo Samuel Sr. in a trade with the San Francisco 49ers. Here are five things to know about Washington's newest offensive weapon.
1. Deebo is actually one of Samuel's two nicknames.
Although he has been known as Deebo for most of his life, Samuel was born Tyshun Raequan Samuel in South Carolina. His father Galen gave him the "Deebo" nickname because of the look he gave people as a toddler, resembling the bully from the 1995 movie, Friday. The name stuck, and Samuel tries to emulate the spirit of the character whenever he steps on the field.
"When I was 12 years old, Little League football, no one ever called me Tyshun besides my stepmom," **Samuel told ESPN in 2020.** "Now, it translates over to the football field, the mindset I have, one guy is not going to tackle me, and the first guy is always going to feel the pain."
Samuel's other nickname, "Sweet Feet," came from his mother. She called him that because he was able to use his 4.4 speed to run past defenders. So, not only does Samuel have the mindset to seek out contact and bowl over defenders, but he can also just outrun them if the situation calls for it.
2. He's always been a talented athlete.
Samuel played high school football at Chapman High School and was a standout athlete for the program. He was named the High School Report Class AAA Offensive Player of the Year as a senior and set a school record with 53 career touchdowns. Samuel played on both sides of the ball but had more success on offense, as he recorded 3,649 total yards in his high school career.
Samuel arrived at the University of South Carolina as a three-star athlete, and while he dealt with injuries at various points in his five-year college career, it was clear that he had a unique skill set. He returned a kickoff for a touchdown against N.C. State to open the 2017 season and excelled as a receiver, running back and return specialist.
Samuel finished his college career with 3,449 yards, including 1,219 return yards and 27 total touchdowns. He had several moments with the Gamecocks that showed he was ready for the NFL, like catching 10 passes for 210 yards and three touchdowns against Clemson in 2018 and his 68-yard touchdown pass against Kentucky in 2017.
3. He knows how to find the end zone.
There's never been a player in NFL history quite like Samuel, and that's not just hyperbole. He's broken a couple of league records to prove it.
Samuel is known for being a versatile weapon that can be used as a wideout and in the backfield, but he didn't truly gain that reputation until 2021, when 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan started using him as a conventional running back more often to get the ball in his hands. Samuel ended the season with 365 yards on 59 carries with eight touchdowns, which set a record for the most rushing touchdowns by a wide receiver in a single season.
Since then, Samuel's reputation as a moveable piece, rather than a traditional receiver, has led to success for both him and the 49ers. In addition to his rushing performance in 2021, he also caught 77 passes for 1,405 yards and six scores, giving him 14 the season and earning him a Pro Bowl vote as well as a First Team All-Pro selection.
Samuel has scored 42 total touchdowns in his six-year career, including 20 as a running back. His rushing score in Week 1 of the 2024 season against the New York Jets not only gave him the most such scores by a wide receiver all-time but also made him the first wide receiver in NFL history to have at least 20 rushing scores and 20 receiving scores in a career.
4. He's also thrown a touchdown pass.
But Samuel isn't just a player who can score with his legs; he's also shown that he can win with his arm.
The 49ers entered Week 18 of the 2021 season with a 9-7 record and in need of a win to get into the playoffs. With the score 17-10 in the Los Angeles Rams' favor, Samuel took the handoff and ran to his right before dropping back to pass. He launched the ball off one foot to fellow receiver Jauan Jennings, who was wide open and made the catch in the end zone.
The 49ers went on to win the game in overtime, 27-24, and advance to the NFC Championship game before falling in a rematch with the Rams. It was a disappointing end for San Francisco, but it's possible they wouldn't have even gotten that far had it not been for the only touchdown pass of Samuel's career.
5. He gets better after contact.
Samuel excels and elevates an offense when the ball is in his hands, and that's what the Commanders are banking on now that he's working with Jayden Daniels and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.
Of Samuel's 5,935 total scrimmage yards, 60% of that has come after contact. It's almost as if Samuel needs contact before he can make an explosive play, as there's a four-yard difference in his average yards before contact per reception (5.1) and his yards after contact per reception (9.2).
And since 2021, few receivers have gained more yards after contact than Samuel. He ranked second among receivers behind Cooper Kupp in 2021 with 768 yards and 12th in 2022 and 2023 with 493 and 527 yards, respectively.
Samuel should be in good company, because the Commanders' offense was one of the better units when it came to generating yards after contact. Half of their passing yards came after broken tackles, and they ranked sixth in rushing yards after contact.
