

Max Samuel
2023 Team Newcomer of the Year PFL Special Teams Player of the Week (Nov. 13, 2023) 2025: Started the first four games of the season before missing the rest of the year due to illness… Had five tackles or more in all four games, totaling 26 for the season… Accrued 5.5 tackles for loss in just four contests including 1.5 sacks… Hurried the quarterback twice and had one pass breakup… Had a season-high eight tackles in the Aug. 30 opener vs. Virginia Lynchburg. 2024: Appeared in 11 games and made three starts… Registered 20 tackles including 13 solos, three tackles for loss and a pair of sacks… Had his first sack of the season on Sept. 21 vs. Roosevelt before notching his second on Oct. 19 vs. St. Thomas as part of a season-high six-tackle performance. 2023: Played in 10 games... Had three punt returns for 19 yards... Totaled four tackles... Blocked three kicks, tied for the fifth most in a single season in program history... Led the PFL and ranked third nationally in blocked kicks... Had his first blocked punt of the season on Sept. 30 vs. Southwest Minnesota State... Blocked two punts on Nov. 11 vs. Stetson, finishing the season as one of only eight players in the FCS nation with multiple blocked kicks in the same game... Named PFL Special Teams Player of the Week for his role in the win over the Hatters... Earned the team’s Newcomer of the Year Award. Prep: Three-year varsity letter winner... First team all-district honoree... Led the team with 76 tackles as a senior.... Also had 12 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and a pass breakup during his senior campaign... Also competed in basketball and track & field… Honor roll member. Personal: Son of Mathias and Jennifer Samuel... Has a younger brother, Caleb, and a younger sister, Anna... Uncle played football at North Dakota State... Hobbies include hanging out with friends, playing video games and lifting weights... Started playing football his freshman year of high school.
| YR | SCHOOL | GP | GS | DEF SNAPS | PROD | TACK | SOLO | TFL | TACK YDS | SACK | PDEF | PBU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Valparaiso University | 2 | 1 | -- | Elite | 15 | 11 | 4.5 | 8 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | Valparaiso University | 4 | 3 | -- | Elite | 26 | 11 | 8 | 27 | 1.5 | 1 | 1 |
| 2024 | Valparaiso University | 11 | 3 | -- | Low | 20 | 13 | 3 | 14 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | Valparaiso University | 10 | 0 | -- | -- | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 27 | 7 | -- | Elite | 65 | 39 | 15.5 | 49 | 4.5 | 1 | 1 |
Valuation
Profile last updated Sep 23, 2026









