University of South Dakota Athletics

2021
Graduated as the program’s all-time leader in receptions by a tight end with 86 … earned honorable mention all-MVFC honors … team’s third-leading receiver with 22 catches for 297 yards and four touchdowns … one of 29 Coyotes who competed in all 12 games and made 11 starts … caught five passes for 52 yards and two touchdowns in the team’s Dakota Days win against Indiana State (10/2) … had three catches for a season-high 68 yards and a score at home against Illinois State (10/23) … aided a run game that averaged 170 yards, good for 32^nd nationally

2020-21
Season was reduced to four games in the spring due to COVID-19 ... was one of 15 Coyotes who started all four games, he at tight end … earned honorable mention all-MVFC honors … caught six passes for 47 yards … also competed on special teams and racked up two tackles … was not charged a year of eligibility due to NCAA rules related to the pandemic

2019
Second-team all-MVFC honoree ... one of 30 Coyotes who competed in all 12 games … led the tight end crew and was the team’s third-leading receiver with 301 yards … his five touchdown catches were second to Caleb Vander Esch’s six … all five scores came in the final five games of the season … had five catches for a season-high 77 yards in non-conference play against Houston Baptist (9/14) … starred in the team’s 24-21 upset of fifth-ranked SDSU, catching six passes for 71 yards and two touchdowns, the first of which came on a fourth-and-goal play at the end of the first half … also carried twice for nine yards against UNI (10/19) … if that’s not enough, he finished with the second-most special teams’ tackles with eight

2018
One of 37 Coyotes who competed in all 11 games … earned two starts at tight end … caught 18 passes for 172 yards and three touchdowns … three scores were second on the team … was seventh on the team in both receptions and receiving yards … had season highs of five catches for 57 yards against UNI (10/13) … caught an 11-yard touchdown pass with 16 seconds left in regulation to force overtime at Indiana State (11/3) … had a 17-yard touchdown catch in the season finale at #5 South Dakota State (11/17)
 

Simmons ?? Samson for six? Extra point is good with 15 seconds remaining on the clock. #GoYotes

?? 31, ?? 31 pic.twitter.com/psgEmKKwTr

— South Dakota Football (@SDCoyotesFB) November 3, 2018

2017
One of 33 Coyotes who competed in all 13 games and one of 18 redshirt freshmen who earned playing time … earned two starts at tight end … caught 14 passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns … carried four times for 39 yards and a score … also competed on special teams and totaled five tackles … caught a 50-yard touchdown against Illinois State for his first collegiate score (10/21), which came on his third collegiate catch … caught a two-yard touchdown the following week against Southern Illinois (10/28) … took first collegiate handoff 11 yards for a touchdown against UNI for his third score in as many weeks (11/4) … other three carries came in the second round of the FCS playoffs against No. 5 Sam Houston State (12/2) … had two catches for 42 yards in the first round playoff win at No. 22 Nicholls (11/25)

2016
Redshirted … was named Offensive Scout Team Player of the Week twice (leading up to New Mexico and Illinois State)

Prep
Samson twice earned all-state honors as a tight end and was also an all-state linebacker for Oconomowoc ... caught 44 passes his senior season for 663 yards and four touchdowns ... on defense, had 59 tackles including nine for loss and three sacks ... also forced two fumbles and had an interception ... in addition to his skills on the gridiron, is a four-time state qualifier on the wrestling mat ... has finished as the state runner-up and amassed more than 160 victories during his high school career

Personal
Mother is Kim ... studying general studies at USD