Chargers News: Asante Samuel Jr. Aims to Resume Dominant Form in 2023

There are big expectations on his shoulders this season!

With the NFL season getting kicked off this weekend, it’s finally time for all the offseason talk to finally go away. The Los Angeles Chargers are entering a big year for the organization, both for players and leadership personnel.

They have some big expectations upon their shoulders this season, and the hope is that they can build off the success from last season. One part that the team is hoping for is more consistency from their star players.

However, the Bolts don’t need to worry about that from their young star in the secondary, Asante Samuel Jr. Since being drafted two years ago, Samuel Jr. has been the epitome of consistency for this team. He is hoping to keep up his dominant efforts once again in 2023.

“Just to show that I can do different things and still get the ball,” Samuel said.

Per The Athletic

Chargers head coach Brandon Staley has been very vocal about his support for Samuel Jr. and what the team expects from him in year three.

“One of Asante’s top qualities is his toughness,” Staley said this week. “He’s physically tough, mentally tough. He’s a competitor. He’s improved each year as a player here, in all ways. He’s had an outstanding training camp. I think he’s been able to showcase inside that he has top Star ability in there. We’re expecting a big year from him.”

Per The Athletic

He is one of the best young players in the entire NFL, and he helps this Chargers defense get to the next level. Samuel Jr. has put up four interceptions in the two years he has been in the league and added 22 passes defended as well.

“He’s a defensive back,” defensive coordinator Derrick Ansley said. “He’s not a guy that you pigeonhole in one spot. Very high IQ. Very competitive. He knows that he can move around and play multiple spots, and we knew that. So for him to come out here this year and really take the bull by the horns, and really dive into that even deeper, just shows you what kind of competitor he is and what kind of makeup he’s got.”

Per The Athletic

This will be a big season for Samuel Jr. as he helps lead this defense. Alongside Derwin James and J.C. Jackson, the Bolts have arguably one of the best secondaries in the league; now they need to go prove it.