Abu Sama Explained

Abu Sama
School:Iowa State Cyclones
Pastschools:Iowa State (2023–present)
Currentnumber:24
Position:Running back
Class:Freshman
Major:Business
Highschool:Southeast Polk (Pleasant Hill, Iowa)
Birth Date:27 May 2005[1]
Birth Place:Des Moines, Iowa
Height Ft:5
Height In:11
Weight Lb:200
Espn:5078005

Abu Sama III (born May 27, 2005) is an American football running back for the Iowa State Cyclones.

Early life and high school

Sama was born on May 27, 2005, in Des Moines, Iowa.[2] His father grew up in Sierra Leone while his mother was born in Liberia; both had near-death experiences during the First and Second Liberian Civil Wars. He attended Southeast Polk High School in Pleasant Hill, Iowa, where he played football and ran track. He won the state long jump championships in 2021 and 2022 and set the state long jump record.[3]

As a junior in football, Sama totaled 20 tackles while playing defense and on offense ran for 931 yards and 12 touchdowns as Southeast Polk won the state championship.[3] [4] The following season, he ran for 1,408 yards and 28 touchdowns, averaging more than 10 yards per touch.[5] He concluded his high school career with 372 rushing yards and six touchdowns in the state title game, helping Southeast Polk win their second straight while setting state title game records in both statistical categories.[5] Sama was named the Des Moines Register Player of the Year,[6] the Gatorade Iowa Player of the Year,[7] first-team all-state and was chosen to play in the US Army Bowl.[3] Ranked a three-star recruit, he committed to play college football for the Iowa State Cyclones over other offers.[8]

College career

Sama saw immediate playing time as a true freshman at Iowa State in 2023; in 12 games, he totaled 84 rushes for 614 yards (a 7.3 average) and six touchdowns.[9] [10] Against 19th-ranked Kansas State in his first start, he ran for 276 yards and three touchdowns in an upset win, which was the fourth-most in a single game in school history and the most ever by a freshman.[11] [12] [13] He was named the Big 12 Conference Offensive Player of the Week and the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week for his performance.[13]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: How Southeast Polk star Abu Sama was inspired by his parents' dangerous journey to the US. Des Moines Register. Tommy. Birch. April 26, 2023. November 28, 2023.
  2. Web site: Abu Sama III. ESPN.
  3. Web site: Abu Sama III. Iowa State Cyclones.
  4. Web site: Southeast Polk's Abu Sama commits to Iowa State. KCCI. June 25, 2022. Dubrof, Jeff.
  5. News: Sama's all-time state title performance shows value of star players. Des Moines Register. Newspapers.com. November 20, 2022. B1, B4. Goodwin, Cody.
  6. News: Southeast Polk’s Abu Sama named All-Iowa Football Player of the Year. Des Moines Register. December 4, 2022. Goodwin, Cody.
  7. Web site: Abu Sama Named Iowa Gatorade Football Player of the Year. Southeast Polk Community School District. January 17, 2023.
  8. Web site: Abu Sama inks with Iowa State Cyclones; 3-star Southeast Polk (Iowa) RB/DB had late suitors. Sports Illustrated. December 21, 2022.
  9. Web site: Abu Sama College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits . 2024-07-05 . . en.
  10. Web site: Abu Sama 2023 Game Log . November 28, 2023 . College Football at Sports-Reference.com.
  11. Web site: Sama's 276-yard rushing night in 1st start for Iowa St. highlighted by long touchdowns. Associated Press. Olson, Eric. November 27, 2023.
  12. Web site: Recap: Abu Sama's historic game helps Iowa State beat Kansas State in Farmageddon. KCCI. November 25, 2023.
  13. Web site: Abu Sama III earns conference honors after historic game. KCCI. November 27, 2023. Dubrof, Jeff.

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