PHOENIX, Ariz. — Dabo Swinney describes Ohio State H-back Curtis Samuel as the Buckeyes’ version of former Clemson wide receiver Sammy Watkins.

Ohio State, who will play Clemson on Saturday at The University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona as part of the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Fiesta Bowl, will line Samuel up in the backfield, in the slot, on the boundary, in the field, will bring him in motion on jet orbits, pop passes, you name it.

“(Samuel) is like ‘Where is Waldo?’ You better know where that cat is because he is a focal point of what they do,” Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables said.

Samuel leads the Buckeyes (11-1) with 822 receiving yards and seven touchdowns, while ranking third on the team with 704 rushing yards and another eight touchdowns. Overall, he has 1,546 total yards or 128.8 total yards per game.

“I find my game is pretty even,” Samuel said. “I love doing both whether it’s running the ball or running down the field catching the ball. I feel excited about doing both of them.”

He does them both well, which helps open up the rest of the Ohio State offense.

“They are balanced in their delivery. They change it up, and they do a very good job in staying balanced,” Venables said. “They will run a lot of the same plays, but the moving, the shifting and disguising what they are doing kind of gets you on your heels.

“They have a lot of good players around him and then an experienced quarterback in (J.T.) Barrett.”

Samuel was flattered Swinney compared him to Watkins, who is now with the Buffalo Bills, but he says there really isn’t anyone he tables his game around.

“I mean, when I was younger I used to think about Percy Harvin, but now as my game is evolving I don’t really think about that too much. I just try to be the best player I can be and do all the things the coaches need me to do,” he said.

And that is why Samuel leads the Buckeyes with a 7.7 yards per carry average and is second on the squad with a 12.6 yards per catch average. The junior has 437 more receiving yards than the next closest teammate.

“Growing up, one of my coaches always told me, if you can’t see it, it will never happen,” Samuel said. “So usually before games I picture myself doing something spectacular. I picture the team doing spectacular even before the play. Even before the play is run, I picture myself doing something spectacular.

“So it doesn’t surprise me when I probably score on a long run or catch a long pass because I have seen it happen already.”

And so has everyone he has played against.

–Photo Credit: Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports