Samuel is already challenging for a starting spot at cornerback
Syracuse Orange football head coach Fran Brown told the media on Monday that freshman Demetres Samuel Jr. will already get an opportunity to start at cornerback. The consensus four-star recruit has also been working with the wide receivers this spring. Brown confirmed that Samuel will also get playing time on both sides of the ball, signaling the Orange could be developing their own Travis Hunter two-way player.
The consensus highest-rated recruit in Syracuse’s 2025 recruiting class is already considered to be a talented defensive back. On3 and 247sports ranked Samuel as a top-20 player in his position. His high school tape did feature him playing on both sides of the ball as a receiver and defensive back.
Fran Brown today: “He’s gonna play both ways. It seems like he’ll have an opportunity of starting at corner. So he should be our starting corner and rotating in and out at receiver.” https://t.co/0nDymBuuXX
— Justin Girshon (@JustinGirshon) April 1, 2025
Samuel is finally in an Orange uniform after an interesting recruiting cycle. He initially committed to Syracuse in April of last year to join the Class of 2026. However, a few months later, Samuel flipped his commitment to join his home-state Florida Gators. He would reclassify to the Class of 2025 in the process. In the end, Samuel recommitted to Syracuse in September last year, remaining as a Class of 2025 recruit. Because of his reclassification, Samuel is still just 16 years old and already participating in Syracuse’s spring practices.
Syracuse had a true freshman starter at cornerback last year. Former Orange defender Marcellus Barnes started the 2024 season as a starter. Injuries limited Barnes to only five games and he entered the transfer portal at the end of the year. Barnes is now at new ACC foe SMU, who the Orange play in Texas in 2025.
Brown and the Orange are looking for new starting cornerbacks as well. Clarence Lewis has graduated and Jayden Bellamy entered the transfer portal, joining UCF. Syracuse does have Devin Grant and Duce Chestnut on the roster, but the two played primarily at safety last season for the Orange.
Syracuse’s interest in playing Samuel on both sides of the ball comes at an interesting time as well given the interest in a joint practice between the Orange and Colorado. Travis Hunter notably won the Heisman Trophy this year playing both sides of the ball for Coach Deion Sanders with the Buffalos. The NCAA recently denied a waiver for the two programs to hold joint spring practice sessions this year.