K.J. Carta-Samuels didn’t come to Vanderbilt’s camp on Sunday expecting an offer. Why would he? The rising junior has yet to start a game on the varsity level in high school. He also quarterbacks a wing-T offense that doesn’t feature the quarterback as a frequent passer.
Despite those limitations, Carta-Samuels will be leaving Nashville on Tuesday with an offer. He’ll also be leaving as a commitment, the second in the class of 2014.
The San Jose (Calif.) Bellarmine Prep prospect will follow in his brother’s footsteps to the Vanderbilt campus. Austyn Carta-Samuels is currently battling Jordan Rodgers for the starting quarterback job and he may be the only person more excited than James Franklin about his brother’s decision.
“He went nuts,” K.J. said of his brother’s reaction to the commitment. “He’s been really clear with me the whole time that he wanted me to make the decision for myself but in talking to my brother what I’ve gotten to understand is that college football is going to present struggles and ups and downs. He’s been through the ups and downs at Vanderbilt and knows the coaches can get you through it. So I know what I’m getting into.
“It’s a beautiful campus a beautiful city and it has great academics. I want to make it happen at Vanderbilt.”
Carta-Samuels is a strong, physical quarterback that will fit the wing-T system well at his high school due to his athleticism and build. This offseason at 7on7s and quarterback camps, he has proven that he also has all the tools on the passing side as well.
“I’m going to do whatever is asked of me,” he said. “My role in high school is going to be different than my role in college. I’m in a unique position because I get to run the running attack and can still go into these passing tournaments and show what I can do through the air.”
Now that the commitment is in the books, Carta-Samuels is focusing his attention not on his own future but on the future of the Vanderbilt program.
“Basically what happened was I had camp yesterday and I felt that I did pretty well and met with Coach Franklin to say “hi” and this morning they told me that they wanted to give me a scholarship offer. They were pretty genuine but at the same time they wanted me to be the quarterback in this class and go out and recruit other players from coast to coast.
“I think that’s where this has moved,” he said. “I want to take a lot of the attention away from me and committing to Vanderbilt and put it on the fact that Vandy is such a special school that I want to get everyone to get on board. I want to get as many four and five-stars as I can to commit to Vanderbilt. I believe if they come here, they’ll stay here. Vandy is such a great place.”
Carta-Samuels joins Jashon Robertson out of Nashville (Tenn.) Montgomery Bell Academy as the second commitment in the 2014 class for Vanderbilt.
- Barton Simmons
- National Recruiting Analyst - 247Sports