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#62 DL/OL Sampson Genus
2007-2010, 6'1", 310 lbs.
Career Stats: OK, so remember a few days ago when I tried to say Anthony McKenzie was the only USF football player who ever started on both sides of the ball? And then a reader said Chris Dunkley did too, and he was right? Well, we all missed another one. Sampson Genus started out as a reserve offensive lineman in 2007. He switched to defensive tackle in 2008, playing every game and getting five starts. Then he switched back to offense in 2009 and became an all-Big East center his last two years. All told, Genus played in 44 games and started 30.
How He Came To USF: Sampson played at Columbia High School in Lake City. He made an all-state second team and distinguished himself in the weight room, where he benched 420 pounds. Genus joined USF's 2007 recruiting class.
Recruiting Rankings: Genus was a two-star recruit on 247, Rivals, and Scout. Just another one of Jim Leavitt's many two-star success stories.
His Best Game: Twice Genus was the center in a game where USF lost its starting quarterback. But the change from extremely nimble B.J. Daniels to extremely not nimble Bobby Eveld against Miami in 2010 was sudden and jarring. Genus and the rest of the offensive line managed it pretty well. They helped Mo Plancher run for over 100 yards, kept Eveld upright in the pocket long enough to lead a game-tying touchdown drive, and then plowed their way in for the game-winning touchdown* as the Bulls took down the Hurricanes 23-20.
* Can we talk about this for a second? An Internet hero recently posted the entire game on YouTube, and after watching it again... Demetris Murray did not cross the goal line. He dove into the pile, and a second later you can see him sitting on the ground with the ball short of the goal line. He was nearly upright when his knee hit the ground. There's no way the ball actually broke the plane before his knee was down. But the referees on the line of scrimmage couldn't see through all the bodies and just saw him lying on the pile with the ball across the line, so they gave it to him. No video replay could possibly overturn it.