Deebo Samuel makes ridiculous one-handed TD catch (Video)
South Carolina wide receiver Deebo Samuel needed just one hand to haul in a 39-yard touchdown pass from Jake Bentley against N.C. State.
The South Carolina Gamecocks entered their Week 1 neutral site matchup with N.C. State as a touchdown underdog. Some expected the Wolfpack to compete for the ACC title and potentially a spot in the College Football Playoff.
However, the Gamecocks jumped out to an early lead when Deebo Samuel returned the opening kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown. Samuel helped the team take a 21-14 lead in the first half by catching a six-yard TD pass in the second quarter, and the junior playmaker added an incredible one-handed touchdown catch in the third quarter to give the Gamecocks the lead once more.
With the score tied 21-21 just after the half, the South Carolina defense gave the Gamecocks great field position after forcing a punt on N.C. State’s first offensive drive of the second half. Three plays into the South Carolina drive, after picking up a first down to move to the N.C. State 39-yard line, Gamecocks quarterback Jake Bentley offered a play-action fake, rolled deep to his right to avoid an oncoming pass rusher near midfield and while still on the run, let loose with a beautiful pass into the end zone, hitting Samuel in stride.
After adjusting his route while Bentley scrambled, Samuel picked up a step on the N.C. State defensive back and stretched out his left arm to bring in the pass for a touchdown just before running out of room.
Next: Top 20 head coaches in college football for 2017
The long TD pass was the third of the day for Bentley, who hooked up with Rico Dowdle for a 34-yarder in the first quarter. Dowdle found the end zone on the ground in the third quarter to increase Carolina’s lead to 35-21, giving the Gamecocks a two-touchdown cushion in their upset bid.