Dru Samia III (born August 22, 1997) is an American football offensive guard for the Arlington Renegades of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at Oklahoma. He has played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Minnesota Vikings and New York Jets.

Dru Samia
No. 75 – Arlington Renegades
Position:Guard
Personal information
Born: (1997-08-22) August 22, 1997 (age 27)
Danville, California, U.S.
Height:6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight:308 lb (140 kg)
Career information
High school:San Ramon Valley (Danville, California)
College:Oklahoma (2015–2018)
NFL draft:2019 / round: 4 / pick: 114
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:15
Games started:4
Stats at Pro Football Reference

College career

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A four-star offensive tackle recruit, Samia chose Oklahoma out of 15 scholarship offers received.[1]

Samia won the 2018 Joe Moore Award, and was named a second-team All-American and first-team All-Big 12 Conference after moving from right tackle to right guard.[2] Scouts noted Samia for his hustle to the whistle, but also noted an occasionally high pad level.[3] During his time at Oklahoma, Samia also made the All-Big 12 Academic Team twice.[4]

Professional career

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Pre-draft

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Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 4+34 in
(1.95 m)
305 lb
(138 kg)
33 in
(0.84 m)
10+18 in
(0.26 m)
5.29 s 1.84 s 3.08 s 4.70 s 7.89 s 27.5 in
(0.70 m)
8 ft 5 in
(2.57 m)
28 reps
All values from NFL Combine[5][6]

At the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine, Samia ran the 40-yard dash in 5.29 seconds, recorded 28 reps on the bench press, a 27.5-inch vertical jump and a 101-inch broad jump.[2]

Minnesota Vikings

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Samia was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth round (114th overall) of the 2019 NFL draft.[7]

Samia was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the team on November 16, 2020,[8] and activated on November 25.[9]

On August 31, 2021, Samia was waived/injured by the Vikings and placed on injured reserve.[10] He was released on September 8, 2021.

New York Jets

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On October 12, 2021, Samia was signed to the practice squad of the New York Jets.[11] He signed a reserve/future contract with the Jets on January 10, 2022.[12] He was waived on July 26, 2022, and placed on the reserve/physically unable to perform list.[13] He was released on March 13, 2023.[14]

Arlington Renegades

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On November 9, 2023, Samia signed with the Arlington Renegades of the XFL.[15]

Personal life

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Samia is half Samoan, and got a tattoo to signify the importance of the Samoan culture to him.[16]

References

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  1. ^ "Dru Samia, 2015 Offensive tackle". Rivals.com. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Oklahoma Sooners Football – 2019 NFL Draft Profile: Dru Samia". Crimson and Cream Machine. April 24, 2019. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  3. ^ Gayle, Austin (March 25, 2019). "Guard prospect Dru Samia to put technique first, intensity 'a very close second' in the NFL". Pro Football Focus. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  4. ^ Rohde, John (October 26, 2018). "O-lineman Dru Samia continues to be rock steady". Rohde OnSports. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  5. ^ "Dru Samia Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  6. ^ "2019 Draft Scout Dru Samia, Oklahoma NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  7. ^ "Vikings Trade Up, Pick Oklahoma G Dru Samia in 4th Round of 2019 NFL Draft". Vikings.com. April 27, 2019. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  8. ^ Williams, Charean (November 16, 2020). "Vikings place Dru Samia on COVID-19 list, activate Brandon Dillon". NBCSports.com. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  9. ^ Williams, Charean (November 25, 2020). "Vikings remove Dru Samia from COVID-19 list". NBCSports.com. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  10. ^ "Vikings Announce Roster Moves to Get to Initial 53". Vikings.com. August 31, 2021. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  11. ^ Greenberg, Ethan (October 12, 2021). "Jets Sign OL Dru Samia to Practice Squad, Release S Sheldrick Redwine". NewYorkJets.com. Archived from the original on October 18, 2021. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
  12. ^ Greenberg, Ethan (January 10, 2022). "Jets Sign 10 Players to Reserve/Future Contracts". NewYorkJets.com.
  13. ^ Greenberg, Ethan (July 26, 2022). "Jets Sign QB Chris Streveler, WR Rashard Davis, OL Isaiah Williams". NewYorkJets.com.
  14. ^ Grindley, Wyatt (March 13, 2023). "Jets Releasing OL Dru Samia". NFLTradeRumors.co. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  15. ^ "Three players sign letters of intent with XFL". XFL.com. November 9, 2023. Retrieved December 26, 2023.
  16. ^ "Sooners ink". OU Daily. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
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