Sammy Green: New 2021 UNLV Football Recruiting Commitment - Interview & Analysis

2021 UNLV Football Commitment Interview & Analysis: Sammy Green

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This season Franchise Sports Media will have player interviews by Joe Arrigo with new UNLV football commits, as well as evaluations by JaRon Turner, former college linebacker and high school football coach at Rancho High School in Las Vegas.

 

On Monday, June 8th, UNLV received a commitment from JSerra running back, Sammy Green. He was the fourth player to commit to Marcus Arroyo and is the second highest-rated running back ever to commit to UNLV.

 

Green held offers from Arizona St., Kansas, Florida Atlantic, and had interest from USC and UCLA. To some, it was a surprise that Green locked into the Rebels, but he said it shouldn’t have been a surprise.

“Honestly Joe, I felt so much love from the start with coach Arroyo and UNLV, it was really easy for me,” Green told me over the phone on Monday night. “The love has been genuine from day one, and that was one of the main things I was looking for–a place that really wants me.”

“After talking with my grandparents and uncle, I told them I was ready to Be a Rebel!” he continued, “They told me that it was my decision and they supported it, and if this is where I want to be, to go ahead and commit.”  

Green is currently the second highest-rated player in the UNLV ’21 recruiting class behind St. John Bosco(California) defensive back, Kam Blanton. He is also the second highest-rated running back in school history, according to 247 Sports, behind only Alvin Marshall.

Thus far, coach Arroyo has four commitments for the ’21 recruiting class with Blanton and Green from Kailua High School, (Hawaii) quarterback Cameron Friel, and Centennial High School (Arizona) offensive lineman, Caiden Miles.

UNLV currently sits 89th in national recruiting and fourth in the Mountain West Conference, with the current class having an average star rating of .8347. The Rebels finished second in the Mountain West Conference in ’20 and 79th Nationally with an average star rating of .8145.

Green is an electrifying running back that brings “juice” to the field. He is a threat to score every time he touches the ball as a running back or a return specialist. Green has excellent vision and hits the hole decisively, which allows him to get on the defender quickly. He also isn’t afraid of contact, even at 5’9 and 180 pounds.

“When I was a freshman, I had to learn how to be a running back,” Green said. “I wasn’t trying to get hit, so I would tell my lineman ‘Just give me two seconds, and I’ll do the rest,’ and it taught me how to be more elusive.”  When I asked him about being patient as a running back, he said, “I’m not gonna just sit there and let them try to hit me, and I get mad when I don’t score when I have the ball in my hands.”

So who are the guys that Green looks to for inspiration and technique? “Saquan Barkley, Damien Williams, and LeVeon Bell. Those are the guys I think I play like,” Green said, “Like, there are some similarities in our games, but I’m explosive and know that I can get even better.” 

“I just want to come in, compete, and work my tail off. I can’t wait to get to the Fertitta Football Complex and play in Allegiant Stadium. I get goosebumps thinking about it,” Green said.

 

Here is my interview with ’21 Football commit Sammy Green:

 

 

JA: How did COVID-19 affect your recruitment and commitment?

SG: I don’t know. It just had me thinking a lot about my future. 

 

JA: Why did you commit so early in the process?

SG: The coaches showed a lot of love, and it was genuine.

 

JA: Who was recruiting you from UNLV?

SG: Coach Baumgartner, the running backs coach.

 

JA: Do you have any interesting or funny stories about when you committed to UNLV? What was Coach Arroyo’s reaction?

SG: Well, honestly, not really. All the coaches were really excited, and I felt the love.

 

JA: What do you think your strengths are on the field?

SG: My speed and awareness.

 

JA: What do you think you need to work on?

SG: My stamina.

 

JA: JSerra has one of the toughest leagues in the country with Mater Dei, St. John Bosco, and others. What did you take away from playing against each of them?

SG: Honestly what I took away from the Trinity League is that I can play with anyone.

 

JA: How big of a role did your trainers and 7v7 team play in your development?

SG: They had a lot to do with it. Ground Zero’s Armon Hawkins is the one who got me my first offer, and my trainer helped me get to this point.

 

JA: Did the Fertitta Football Complex and Allegiant Stadium play a role in your commitment or did it change your view of UNLV football?

SG: I don’t think it changed my view on it because it’s not the stadium and complexes and stuff I’m there for… It’s to get a college to degree and play the sport that I love, and the UNLV staff that I trust will help me do that.

 

JA: What do you want to major in while attending UNLV?

SG: I want to go into technology or business.

 

JA: What NFL or college players do you pattern your game after?

SG: Levon Bell and Saquan Barkley 

 

 

 

JaRon Turner’s Sammy Green Player Analysis and Evaluation:

 

Sammy Green: Running Back / JSerra High School

 

When it comes to running backs, one will always look for these three main qualities: Explosion–the ability to fire through even the tiniest crease, or run over a defender like a bull hitting a wooden fence; Vision–Being able to see daylight even in the most unlikely places; and toughness– the heart and will of a runner, that undeniable sense that the runner will ‘die-hard’ and fight for every yard he can. 

These three attributes can be found in every great running back throughout the game, from Jim Brown to Saquon Barkley. After carefully watching Sammy Green’s tape, I can safely conclude that Green has all three of these attributes in his game: 

 

Even though Sammy Green is undersized, standing 5’9 and 180 lbs, and doesn’t seem extremely fast on tape, the JSerra High School running back shows tremendous heart and tenacity when he runs. Several clips from his HUDL film show Green powering his way through defenders endlessly trying to tackle him. All the while, Green keeps his legs churning and his chest over his knees to cover the ball, shielding his legs from would-be tacklers. 

He has exceptional vision. On film, Green often hits the small crease in the line that more average running backs avoid or don’t see. Those types of plays often make the difference between winning and losing important ball games. Green makes those plays with his eyes, carefully scanning the line, looking for green grass and daylight to run to. He then sticks his foot in the ground and explodes through the hole, making what would be a small or no gain play into big gainers or even breakaway touchdowns.

For UNLV head football coach Marcus Arroyo and his staff, a player like Sammy Green is similar to the type of runner that Oregon is used to having–often undersized, but stocky, quick runners with good vision and excellent hands. In more recent history, Sammy Green is the type of runner that can continue UNLV’s lineage of talented rushers, like Lexington Thomas and Charles Williams. In my opinion, Green can be used in both the run and passing game, similar to Williams and Thomas over the last six years. 

Coach Arroyo and his staff’s plan is beginning to show. The Rebels will go after players they feel can help them and have no fear of who they are recruiting against. To have a player like Sammy Green running behind the massive boys up front, the future of the UNLV offense will be ignited by the ground game, much like the Ducks. If coach Arroyo’s offensive performance at Oregon is any indication of what Samuel Green can expect at UNLV, this running back will enjoy many successes playing with the Rebels.

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-JaRon Turner – Franchise Sports Media

 

 

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