Deebo Samuel sitting out Belk Bowl, closing Carolina career
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) – Deebo Samuel announced on Instagram Monday afternoon that he has played his last game in garnet and black, skipping the Belk Bowl to focus on the NFL Draft.
Announced earlier in the day as a first-team All-SEC selection at kick and punt returner and a second-team pick at wide receiver, Samuel finished fourth in the league with 882 receiving yards, fifth with 62 catches, and second with 11 touchdown grabs.
The senior from Inman also returned 23 kicks for 570 yards, leading the Southeastern Conference in yards per return (24.78), while scoring the only kick return touchdown in the conference in 2018.
He also threw a pair of touchdown passes, the first in 2016 vs. Clemson, the second this September in the Georgia game. The 6-foot, 210 lb WR also recovered a fumble for another TD against Akron Saturday, in what will now be his last game at Carolina. In total, Deebo accounted for 29 touchdowns, which is the fourth most in Carolina history.
Samuel has had a history of injuries in his first three seasons at USC, notably a broken leg suffered three games into a breakout 2017 junior year where he scored six touchdowns in just over 10 quarters of play. Deebo played in just five games as a freshman and 10 as a sophomore. 2018 marked the first year he played a full regular season.
In a release from Gamecocks Athletics, head coach Will Muschamp weighed in on Deebo’s choice:
“I personally support his decision. Deebo has been a great student-athlete, both on and off the field, at the University of South Carolina and will graduate on December 17. We appreciate all of his contributions to the University and wish him the best of luck as he pursues his dream of playing in the NFL.”
On Twitter, Samuel posted this video below:
