Servite's Bijon Samoodi

Was named First Team all-Trinity League defense, First Team All-CIF-SS Pac-5 and all-Orange County as a 2007 junior and earned Second Team All-State Underclass honors in 2007 for Anaheim (Calif.) Servite.

Had 35 tackles, six interceptions and a touchdown.

Academically, has a 2.9 GPA and scored a 1617 on the SAT.

PCs: 235; VJs: 39

Bijon Samoodi says: "I am stronger, faster, and bigger then people think. After we play an opponent, the coach or one of their key players will come up to me after the game and say; you’re a tough player. I play a big 5' 8" with my vertical and athleticism; I used to play basketball so I wanted to slam-dunk so bad that I worked hard on my leaping skills (I can grab the rim now). I have football speed, I'm not the fastest guy on the clock but you put a guy who is a 4.3 in front of me and he won't get by me, some instinct in me says; "I have stop him", and I do...

I get my speed and athleticism from my mother and father; my mom ran track and my father was a potential minor league baseball player from JW North High School. My weakness is my height but I know I will grow, my father graduated at 5' 9" 180 and in college grew to be 5' 10" 210 where he continued to play baseball. I don't mind being small; it makes me play bigger, harder, and with something to prove. I love when the big guys trash talk, I can't wait for the game to begin. Once we get the game going, they usually stop talking trash, especially if I get a good hit on them.

Coach Troy Thomas' Comments:
When I evaluate the skills and character of Bijon Samoodi, I am reminded of three defensive backs that that I coached who went on to play in the Pac 10 conference. (Shaun Williams FS UCLA, Josh Golden CB Arizona State and Ryan Foltz SS California). Bijon reminds me of each of them in different ways. Bijon reminds me of Josh Golden with the skills needed to play cornerback at the division I level. Speed, quickness and change of direction skills are qualities that they both had as high school corners. Ryan Foltz was one of the smartest players I have ever coached. Like Ryan, Bijon has such a feel for the game. He is a very smart and instinctual football player. We have all had players that are easy to coach because you only have to tell them once and they get it. Bijon is that player. I would have to rank Bijon up there with Shaun Williams as one of the best open field tacklers I have coached at the high school level. Shaun and Bijon share the love of hitting and being physical. They were both very tough mentally and physically. Bijon is going to be a great college corner. Whoever lands this big time recruit will be happy with their choice both on and off the field. Bijon has a very strong character and was a pleasure to have in our program for four years.