Brad Samsa
Football
2008-09
Offensive lineman Brad Samsa received plenty of on-the-field and off-the-field recognition throughout his Youngstown State football career.
Samsa was named an All-American by the American Football Coaches Association as a senior, was a three-time all-conference selection, a three-time academic all-league pick and following his senior year was tabbed an FCS Academic All-Star and a National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society member.
During his decorated career, he started the final 38 games on the offensive line. Whatever the Penguins line needed him to do he did. Throughout his career he started at center, guard and tackle showing his versatility on the front line. In his final three seasons, Samsa had the highest overall grade on the offensive line.
As a senior, Samsa was named to the AFCA All-America squad. He was a third-team All-America selection by The Associated Press while being tabbed an honorable-mention pick by The Sports Network. In 2008, he started the first nine games at center before moving to right guard for the final three contests. He was credited with a team-high 751 snaps played for the year. Samsa graded out at 81 percent for the campaign, also a team high.
Down the stretch, Samsa played his best football grading above 83 percent in the final four games and five of the last six. He was a first-team Missouri Valley Football Conference pick and earned honorable-mention all-league academic accolades. He was selected as a team captain prior to the season.
As a junior, Samsa started at three different positions earning first-team all-conference honors. As an offensive tackle, the position he played the final seven games of the year after it was decimated by injuries, he was a second-team All-American by the AP and an honorable-mention pick by The Sports Network. He also earned honorable-mention academic all-league honors. He played an offensive line high 688 snaps, allowing just one sack for the year. He led the team with an overall grade of 80 percent.
During his sophomore year, Samsa moved from center to guard and the Penguins had their best season in years going 11-3 advancing to the NCAA FCS semifinals. He started all 14 games and for the regular season posted the highest overall grade of any lineman. He was a second-team all-conference pick in his first year as a starter.
As a redshirt freshman in 2005, Samsa started the season finale at center and saw action in six games.
A graduate of Howland High School, he is the son of Stacy and Greg Samsa. Majoring in Industrial and Systems Engineering, he owns a 3.26 GPA.
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