#1

Demetres Samuel Jr.

DB · Syracuse · R-Jr. · #1

Returning to Syracuse for 2026
R-Jr. · Palm Bay, Fla. → Heritage
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This season's coverage starts August 26 — check back once kickoff hits.

Demetres Samuel Jr.

DB · Syracuse · Fr · #1

Limited signal — not enough coverage for a story yet.

Career Arc

HS
Recruit
★★★★
#244 national
CFB
College
Syracuse
2025
NFL
NFL Draft
Not drafted (yet)

2025 snapshot

Season context · Team result + system

2025Syracuse3-9HC: Fran Brown · Balanced

Career stats

SeasonTeam
2025Syracuse37311.00.071--
Career37311.00.071--

Signature game

SIGNATURE GAME · Week 3 · 2025

W 66–24

vs Colgate

1 rec · 10 yds

Dominant 42-point win at home against Colgate.

How he plays

Play style

Erases the deep middle of the field.

CFB Index positional classification

2026 Outlook

Syracuse

2026 Depth chart

Projected starter

Defensive back · Syracuse

Returning around him

  • 14% of 2024 offensive production back (Heavy turnover)
  • Transfer portal: -10 net (19 in / 29 out)

2026 Award watch

No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)

Syracuse · Last season: 3-9 · Talent rank #34 · 2026 recruiting class #35

DNA match

Player DNA

Centerfielder

Single-high range who erases the deep middle of the field.

S

His 2025 production profile sits closest to Deonte Banks’s 2022 season.

Deonte Banks

79%match

Maryland · 2022

NFL Rd 1 · Pk 25
#2

Carrington Valentine

Kentucky · 2022

NFL Rd 7
78%
#3

Jarvis Brownlee

Louisville · 2023

78%
#4

Chris Peal

Syracuse · 2025

77%
#5

Kool-Aid McKinstry

Alabama · 2023

1st-team All-AmericanNFL Rd 2 · Pk 9
77%

Matches Deonte on

Tackle volume
Interceptions
TFL rate

Differs from Deonte on

Height (lower)
Weight (lower)

Not enough data yet for this comparison.

As a freshman, his production profile tracks closest to E'zaiah Shine's freshman season at Tulane (2025).

Tulane · 2025

#2

Courtland Guillory

Oklahoma · 2025

82%
#3

Will James

Southern Miss · 2024

All-Big 12
78%
#4

Terrion Arnold

Alabama · 2022

1st-team All-AmericanNFL Rd 1 · Pk 24
77%
#5

Jamarion Kolagbodi

Delaware · 2025

74%

Matches E'zaiah on

Class year
Tackle volume
PD rate

Heisman trajectory

Heisman Trajectory · 2025

Peak #12164

Final rank
#12732
Avg #12563.7
Finalist prob 0%

Peaked at #12164 this season.

Background

Freshman Year (2025): Finished fourth in ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year voting after breakout freshman campaign ... Named one of ESPN.com's top-20 freshmen in the country ... Shaun Alexander Award Freshman of the Year Award semifinalist ... Had the third-most pass breakups (9) of any true fresh...

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