The Denver Broncos will host South Carolina wide receiver/kick returner Deebo Samuel on a pre-draft visit this week, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis.
Samuel (5-11, 214 pounds) ran a 40-yard dash in 4.48 seconds and bench-pressed 225 pounds 15 times at the combine earlier this offseason. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein has compared Samuel to Pharoh Cooper, who was a fourth-round pick in 2016 and earned a Pro Bowl nod as a return specialist in 2017.
During his four years with the Gamecocks, Samuel hauled in 148 receptions for 2,076 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also rushed 25 times for 154 yards and seven touchdowns and returned 42 kickoffs for 1,219 yards and four scores.
“Samuel has explosive quickness like no other,” Draft Wire’s Gavino Borquez wrote of the receiver last December. “He’s able to separate out of breaks and is simply too fast for corners to cover on run away routes.”
Denver could certainly use a player like Samuel — he can provide depth at receiver and would likely win the team’s kick return job. Samuel is projected to be a second-round pick in this year’s draft.
