Abu Sama focused on growth after breakout freshman season with Iowa State football

Iowa high school football fans knew that Abu Sama was destined for greatness, even during his days at Southeast Polk.

Week after week, he put together highlight reel-worthy performances, including a stat line of 372 yards and six touchdowns in the 2022 state championship game. And then he took his talents to Iowa State football .

The former Rams running back turned Cyclones’ star never missed a beat.

On Nov. 25, Sama rushed for 276 yards and three touchdowns – including a 71-yard score on the first offensive play of the game – against Kansas State. It was his first career start, something he earned after two other running backs – Eli Sanders and Cartevious Norton- did not travel to Manhattan with the team.

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Two days later, Sanders and Norton officially entered the transfer portal.

Sama’s performance – which included two 70-plus yard rushing touchdowns, the most by a Big 12 player since Adrian Peterson – put him in elite company.

“It was crazy,” Sama told the Des Moines Register during a We Will Collective event at Principal Park on Saturday. “(Peterson is) a great running back, one of the best running backs to ever play football. And my name being with his, it was amazing.”

Sama isn’t one to get starstruck, and the Iowa State staff doesn’t have time for the rising star to focus on last season’s success, especially with a change in the coaching staff.

Cyclones special teams and running backs coach Jordan Langs departed the program at the end of last season. Tyler Roehl, in his first season as running backs coach at Iowa State, inherited a young group.

Aside from Eastern Michigan transfer Jaylon Jackson, Sama is one of the most experienced players in the running backs room. Sama and Carson Hansen are the only backs on the roster who saw action with Iowa State last season. The group is rounded out by true freshmen Dylan Lee, Charlie Whelpley and Aiden Flora, along with redshirt freshman Easton Miller.

“They’re awesome,” Sama said of the newcomers. “They’re all unique in their own ways, and I can’t wait to see them playing, getting reps and when they do score touchdowns, I’ll be right there cheering them on.”

Sama – a sophomore – speaks like a natural-born leader.

And the Cyclones will need him to step into that role as one of the most experienced running backs on the roster.

But Sama understands that his individual success is a result of the team’s efforts, and he shared that there isn’t just one leader emerging from the running back group. He emphasized how much Hansen has impacted him.

“He’s been helping me with trying to become a better man and a better football player,” Sama said. “We’ve been helping each other mentally get ready for the season and pushing each other every day to get better.”

More: Two key areas Iowa State football can improve to unlock big 2024 season for Cyclones

Sama shies away from the spotlight, but there is no escape from the expectations placed on him this season. Not many players enter their sophomore season off a true freshman campaign like the one Sama put together.

But players like linebacker Caleb Bacon, who occasionally goes up against Sama in practice, understand that the Iowa State running back is someone special.

“He’s just a freak athlete,” Bacon said. “His cutting ability, running ability, everything about him. He’s just a great athlete.”

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Freak athlete or not, one player doesn’t make an offense. Sama enters this season with a bit more confidence, both in himself and in his connection with quarterback Rocco Becht and the rest of the offense.

But in typical Sama fashion, he turned the focus back to the team, and his expectations for the entire running back room.

“We’ve been working really hard,” Sama said. “(Iowa State fans) are going to see more big plays, more excitement from everybody in the running back room.”

Alyssa Hertel is the college sports recruiting reporter for the Des Moines Register. Contact Alyssa at ahertel@dmreg.com or on Twitter @AlyssaHertel .

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Abu Sama focused on growth after breakout freshman season with Iowa State football