Saturday, May 11, 2024

MSU football center Nick Samac drafted in seventh round of 2024 NFL Draft, No. 228 overall to Baltimore

April 27, 2024
Redshirt senior center Nick Samac (59) lines up for a drill during the MSU football spring open practice, held at Spartan Stadium on April 15, 2023.
Redshirt senior center Nick Samac (59) lines up for a drill during the MSU football spring open practice, held at Spartan Stadium on April 15, 2023.

It took all seven rounds, but a Michigan State football player's name was called at the 2024 NFL Draft

Nick Samac – a five-year center for MSU – was selected at No. 228 overall by the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday. The Ravens chose to begin the last round with another addition to their offensive line after drafting Washington lineman Roger Rosengarten in the second round. 

Samac was one of the last remaining Spartans to have originally committed to former head coach Mark Dantonio before the Hall of Famer coach stepped down in 2020

The 6-foot-4, 305-pound center had a rocky final season in East Lansing; he underwent leg surgery in December as MSU finished 4-8, rendering Samac unable to participate in pre-draft events

“(Samac) was a solid player on a terrible offensive line,” MSU alumnus Tom Ruffalo said in Detroit at the NFL Draft. “His teams won’t be remembered much but it would be nice to hear MSU’s name at least once here.”

The Mentor, Ohio native played in 48 games over five years, starting 32 of those

“I don’t remember a ton about (Samac), but (it’s) probably more of a reflection on the team than anything,” MSU alumna Shelly Crait said in Detroit at the draft

The Ravens lost guards Kevin Zeitler and John Simpson to free agency this offseason, which increases the possibility of John Harbaugh and Baltimore moving him around the line. 

Samac started four games his freshman year before splitting time with Matt Allen for the next two seasons. He became a full-time starter in 2022 and used his extra year of eligibility granted by Covid and earned an All-Big Ten honorable mention his last two seasons.

Michigan State alumnus Bud Whitley said in Detroit at the draft that he was looking forward to hearing Samac's name being called at the draft, hopefully causing more recognition for Michigan State.

"(MSU) could use some more football attention," Whitley said.

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