2013 BYU Football Newcomers: Bryan Sampson
By Mitch Harper
Bryan Sampson
Pleasant Grove High School (Pleasant Grove, UT)
6-3 | 215 lbs | Tight End
Before Mission: Sampson was one of the top recruits in the state of Utah for the 2010 class. Sampson, who’s the younger brother to former Utah Tight End, Colt Sampson was a prep standout at Pleasant Grove High School.
Received offers from Utah State and Idaho State but also had heavy interest from the likes of Nebraska and Cal. Sampson committed prior to his senior year at Pleasant Grove.
At BYU, Sampson redshirted his first year in 2010. Prior to leaving on a mission Sampson participated in spring camp for the 2011 season. In the annual Blue-White Spring Game, Sampson caught the game-winning two-point conversion in Overtime from Riley Nelson with snow pelting all the fans in attendance.
Sampson is a tall target that is suited perfectly for a Blue Zone offense. The two-point conversion in the 2011 spring game is ideally how Sampson gets used at BYU.
Expectations for 2013: Buried in depth chart at Tight End
Unless something drastically changes in Fall Camp or there are many injuries to the Tight End position throughout the season, I don’t envision Sampson seeing much this season on the field.
Despite the lack of production from the Tight End position the past few years, there are many players in the unit right now that the staff views as potential contributors this season. Most notably Kaneakua Friel, Brett Thompson, and Richard Wilson.
Potential in BYU Career: High
Sampson is a talented TE. He will get an opportunity at BYU, it will take some time though. By the end of Sampson’s career at BYU, I see him as a quality target in key 3rd down plays that move the chains. He won’t be a player that is a versatile threat like a Dennis Pitta, but he has good hands like a Pitta and again he will be a great threat in the Blue Zone.
Look for Sampson to emerge as a starter down the road in his career.