Former Tide player Chris Samuels "blessed" to go into ASHOF
BIRMINGHAM | Chris Samuels didn’t face much nerves on the football field. The big guy with long arms and good footwork made a good living at protecting the quarterback’s blind side.
Saturday night, however, the former University of Alabama offensive tackle standout was hit with a little case of nerves as he was inducted as part of the 2016 class into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.
Samuels starred at Shaw High School in Mobile before becoming an All-American and Outland Trophy winner at Alabama as the nation’s best offensive lineman. From there he went on to be the No. 3 overall selection in the 2000 NFL Draft.
After 10 standout years with the Washington Redskins, six of those as a Pro Bowl selection, Samuels retired after being diagnosed for spinal stenosis.
For all those accomplishments, he joined the best of the best in the state of Alabama’s history.
“This is probably the highest honor I’ve ever received,” Samuels said. “Getting drafted third pick overall was big time. Winning the Outland Trophy as the best lineman in the nation was really big.
“But just being among the best in the hall of fame in the state of Alabama is the highest. I grew up on guys like Bo Jackson and Charles Barkley and Hank Aaron (with Hank Aaron Stadium) down there where I’m from in Mobile, Alabama. Just to be in the same hall as those guys is really big time.”
He returned to Tuscaloosa in 2012 to serve on Nick Saban’s support staff and to finish his degree. After three seasons back with the Crimson Tide, Samuels moved back to Virginia to coach high school football.
“The first year was very challenging,” Samuels said. “If I had to give myself a letter grade probably a C because of what I learned as far as managing kids. I’m really enjoying it.”
Post professional football, Samuels is enjoying life with his wife Monique and two children.
“I’m blessed. At one point I really didn’t see myself getting married at all,” Samuels said. “I was just going to run the streets forever. I thought that was the thing to do. “The Lord would only let me get so far and then he would call me back to where I was supposed to be going. I met my wife and we have two beautiful kids. I have a blessed life. I’m happy. I had a great career. And now it’s moving into the next phase of life and I’m just as excited about that.”
Reach Aaron Suttles at aaron@tidesports.com or at 205-722-0229.