Interview: Ohio 2017 OG/OC Samari Saddler Emerging as a Can’t Miss Moeller Product

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

At the time of this post, at least 11 college programs, their offensive line coach, offensive coordinator, and head coach all agree with a RNG evaluation, Samari Saddler is emerging as a can’t miss next level recruit.

If Saddler were two inches taller, the recruiting world from coast to coast would surely know his name by now but the narrow mindset of some on a prototypical size for linemen has kept some big programs from making a really smart decision. As is, Saddler is a 6’2”, 295 pound, one-man gang along the offensive line for Archbishop Moeller High School. The Cincinnati area talent played right guard during the 2015 season but may be making a move to center, a spot next level coaches are more forgiving on for an unwritten rule height requirement.

During his junior campaign, Saddler was all over the field helping out on a pass set, pulling, trapping, or in head-to-head showdowns on running or passing plays. Showing quick feet and a strong punch he caught the attention of Navy, Old Dominion, Miami (OH), Kent State, Eastern Michigan, Buffalo, Akron, Air Force, Eastern Kentucky, Mercer, and Marshall with each school extending a scholarship offer.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, I sat down with the two-year starter going over his junior season, his offseason workouts, and found out a little bit more about his possible switch from guard to center for the 2016 season.

Interview

Samari, a question I have to ask. How many pancake blocks did you end up with last year?

(Laughs) “I don’t know but me and the other offensive linemen make a bet before each game on the bus. Whoever has the least pancake blocks has to buy dinner for the offensive line. I have not had to buy dinner yet!”

You have acquired a lot of playing time over the past two seasons getting a lot of on the field experience against some great Ohio area talent. What are some of the things you think you do well right now as an offensive lineman?

“I’d say I’m aggressive, I finish – which colleges coach love, I look to hit, I’m smart, and I know what to do. I have a high football IQ.”

From a technical standpoint, what are some of the things you do well off the snap of the ball on a pass or run play?

“Right now my strongest asset is my punch. I’m not trying to be cocky, but I’m a really strong kid. One of the things I am trying to improve on is my first step. I tend to step under myself but right now I can cover myself and not be exposed.”

You mentioned your footwork as something you are working to improve upon. What else are you working on this offseason?

“Right now I’m working on jumping back on my pass set. I’m working on my kick back and getting my hands up waiting for them to come to me. I’m helping out at center. I’m working one-on-one with a 3-technique off the snap. I’m working on snapping because most colleges are looking at me as a center. I’m working on those steps. I know how to snap the ball but just working on those steps for the next level.”

Is it set in stone that you will play center next season or might you play some at guard too?

“I’m not sure yet on my O-line position. They want me to snap the ball because I am the quickest but I’m not sure yet because I have not snapped in a game just in practice. I think I’ll play guard but I don’t know.”

Will you play any along the defensive line next year?

“I have talked to our defensive line coach about that. He said he wanted to see me at the nose guard position. I played defensive line my freshman year. I was not supposed to play offensive line my sophomore year, but I was moved over. The whole progression is a little funny, in Little League I was a running back.”

That is a big change in a couple of years from running back to a 6’2”, 300 pound, offensive lineman. You show a lot of physical strength on your reel. Have you maxed out on bench, squat, or power clean lately?

“We maxed out four weeks ago. My last bench max was 360. My squat was 610, I power cleaned 285, and on incline I did 315. I dead lifted 600 too.”

You squatted 610?!

“Yeah but that is not the most that I have done. Going into my junior year I did 625. Hitting 610 was a good start to the offseason for me.”

Wow. Impressive.

“Thank you.”

What are your goals for the 2016 football season?

“My goals for the season are to try to lead the team to a state championship. That is where we all want to go. As a team captain, that is what I want. I have no personal goals. I want to help the team and the team comes first. I would like to be first team All-GCL and first team All-State. I would like to be first team Al-City instead of second team next season.”

At this time you have 14 offers on the table. Are any of the schools that have offered you pushing a little bit harder than the others trying to secure your commitment?

“I’d say Marshall and Eastern Michigan.”

Are there any schools that have not offered you yet but are showing heavy or strong interest?

“Illinois. I was expecting to get offered right before I was about to visit with the old staff. Their new offensive line coach, Coach (Luke) Butkus, likes me. Rutgers and Miami (FL) too. Miami (FL) is one of my favorite schools no doubt.”

Which schools have you made unofficial visits to so far?

“Miami (FL), Eastern Michigan, Miami (OH), Illinois, Marshall, and that’s it. Toledo too.”

Do you have any unofficial visits coming up?

“I’m looking at going down to Penn State this summer, Buffalo maybe, and sometime soon I’ll be back at Marshall. I may see Eastern Michigan again.”

You have been on a lot of unofficial visits. When you take a visit, what looking at from the campus, academics, and football program?

“The first thing I’m looking for is how the coaches present themselves. How are they in practice and does that fit the kind of coach I want to play for in college? Are they the kind of coach that will push me every day and get the best out of me? I look at the coaches’ knowledge of the academic programs. Does what they say live up to what is factual about the programs? I see if they are lying to see if they are honorable. I am not looking for the glitz and glamour. I’m looking for good academics and a good school. A lot of other kids are looking at nice uniforms and stuff like that. I don’t.”

Very wise. Have you started thinking about when you might verbally commit?

“Maybe some time around late July or early August. If I am not ready by that time, then later in the season. Maybe in the middle of the season.”

Have you decided if you are going to attend any college camps this summer?

“I’m not sure yet. I will have to plan that with my dad (Sherman). Schools have been asking me to come to their camps. Louisville is one of the schools. My coach and I were together talking about all of this. He said, “You should ask if I come (to a camp) will that school offer me?” He said, “I don’t want you to waste your time.” My parents are spending a lot of money sending me places without me getting offers. I should not be afraid to ask that. Asking that should not hinder my relationship with the coaches.”

How is everything going in the classroom?

“I have a 3.3 GPA.”

What is your favorite subject in school?

“Right now English because of the way my teacher sets up the class. The amount of reading I have to do, he has helped me manage my time with reading. Football takes a lot of time. He has taught me how to get that reading time in. I used to lag on that. He has me to the point where I am really reading not scanning. A class that I have not taken yet but I am excited about is honors engineering. That’s what I want to major in college.”

Have you taken the ACT or SAT yet?

“Yeah, I took the ACT last Saturday.”

Are you feeling good about it?

“Yeah I do, except the science part. I am unsure about that part. I asked my friends if they were on the same page with me. They all thought it was hard too. I wanted to make sure I was not the only one that felt that way.”

Is there a player at the NFL or college level you like watching play the game?

“One guy I love to watch on Saturday, actually two, the Allen brothers at Michigan State. Jack and Brian Allen, they are so good. I love to watch them. Jack has been an All-American since his freshman year. He shows you height does not matter (6-2, 296). It gets down to who can play football. In the NFL, it is Travis Fredrick, the center for Dallas Cowboys. He played at Wisconsin. I’ve been watching him since college. He is aggressive and finishes blocks.”

Who has made the biggest impact on your football career?

“Probably my dad. Knowing how much he has pushed me to get where I am now. He has been putting me in great situations like getting me into Moeller. My parents have had to sacrifice a lot to get me in there.”

Samari, thanks for your time today and good luck on your upcoming visits.

“Thank you.”

Photo credit: scout.com; Samari Saddler at a Moeller practice.

Photo credit: scoutingohio.com; No. 66 Samari Saddler pre-snap.

Photo credit: Saddler family; Samari at Miami.