Junior linebacker for Maryland. 2025: 2 tackles.
6′1″ · 238 lb · Englewood, NJ · Bergen Catholic
Recruiting
EDGE recruit
No. 1232 nationally · Signed with Maryland
No college snaps yet.
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
3 linebacker for Maryland. 2025: 2 tackles.
DJ Samuels
This is his second year in the same linebacker corps at Maryland. The receipt on tape: 1 tackles against Towson, Week 3, 2025.
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
His career
Career arc
Season context · Team result + system
2 seasons under Mike Locksley, all pass-leaning offenses — 8-16 over that span.
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
Concern: tackles (0th percentile).
Percentiles are versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score production. There are no play-by-play efficiency bars here: CFBD's play-value model credits offensive players only, so no defensive EPA exists to rank.
Splits · Per-game
2025 season · 4 games
Home vs Road
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home3g | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
First half vs Second half
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-74g | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Mike Locksley
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Player standing · 2025
On the two-deep and pushing for snaps.
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 3 · 2025
W 44–17
vs Towson
1 TOT · 1 SOLO
Dominant 27-point win at home against Towson.
With M. Washington — 261 yds · 1 TD · 1 INT · QBR 94.8 · 29 rush yds (3 car) · 1 TD · B. McFerson — 48 AVG · 1 IN 20 · 52 LONG
Game log · Week-by-week
2025 season · 4 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 39-7vs Florida Atlantic | 1 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 1 tackles |
| Wk 2 | W 20-9vs Northern Illinois | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Wk 3 | W 44-17vs Towson | 1 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 4 | W 27-10@ Wisconsin | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Total | 2 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 |
2026 Outlook
Maryland
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Fullback · Maryland
Returning around him
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Maryland · Last season: 4-8 · Talent rank #46 · 2026 recruiting class #43
SAMUELS IN THE NEWS: A Man of Many Abilities As a Junior (2025): Saw action in four games before suffering a season-ending injury in Maryland's win over Wisconsin. Played on offense, defense and special teams for the Terps. Had a reception, kickoff return and made two tackles prior to his injury....
2 more on the roster · Maryland team page