Mizzou senior defensive end Michael Sam had an incredible season in the Tiger uniform. But he has one more game in a Mizzou helmet left.
Sam will be representing Mizzou in the 64th Senior Bowl this Saturday. The Senior Bowl will be televised by NFL Network from Ladd-Peebles Stadium (38,888) in Mobile, Ala. He will be among the best players in the nation at the prestigious post-season game and a standout at his position among peers.
Interestingly, Sam is one of 21 total players from the SEC, but the lone SEC player on the North team. The other 20 players from the SEC are all on the South team roster. There will be a bit of a southern rivalry to the game as the North will be coached by Atlanta Falcons Head Coach Mike Smith, and the south by Jacksonville Jaguars Coach Gus Bradley.
On December 18, 2013, Sam earned a Football Writers Association of America’s (F.W.A.A.) 1st team All-America selection, which gave Sam his fifth overall 1st team selection–a clean sweep–making him the second unanimous 1st team All-American in Mizzou football history. The first unanimous pick under Gary Pinkel, Sam joins Tiger great Danny LaRose, a standout on the team from 1958-60.
Sam was also named the Associated Press’s SEC Defensive Player of the Year for his performance in 2013.
Michael Sam ended his playing career for Mizzou with a game-winning sack on Oklahoma State’s quarterback in the Cotton Bowl to force a fumble that sophomore defensive lineman Shane Ray would return 73 yards for a touchdown.
Throughout his career, Sam has had key plays for Mizzou, such as causing a key fumble against No. 1 ranked Oklahoma as a freshman. His 2013 numbers of 10.5 sacks and 18 tackles for loss ranks him in the top-10 of both categories nationally. Sam is projected by virtually all NFL mock drafts as a first round pick.
The Senior Bowl will air on NFL Network at 3 p.m. CT this Saturday, January 25th.