Samuel M'Pemba didn’t start playing football until he was in the seventh grade. “It was weird, but I was still just trying to figure things out and learn all the rules and stuff,” he said. M'Pemba transferred to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., from St. Louis’ Ladue Horton Watkins High School before the 2021 season. M'Pemba helped Ladue Horton Watkins to the Missouri Class 4 state semifinals as a sophomore. His parents are Martial and Mimi. He has five siblings: PJ, Rolanda, Anne-Marie, Marie Grace and Akou. M'Pemba plans on majoring in business in college.