True freshman running back Abu Sama III adds Big 12 Newcomer of the Week and other awards to his trophy case after a career day on the ground for the Cyclones in the team’s win on the road against BYU.
Sama’s two rushing touchdowns, highlighted by a 59-yard run to the outside to put the Cyclones up by 32, led the way for Iowa State in its 45-13 bowl-clinching win over the Cougars. The Iowa native on eight carries accounted for 110 of the Cyclones’ season-high 234 rushing yards.
Sama joins defensive backs Jeremiah Cooper and Beau Freyler, and kicker Chase Contreraz as the fourth Cyclone to earn a weekly award from the Big 12.
Conference Newcomer of the Week is the most recent of honors bestowed upon Sama, as on Sunday he was named 247Sports True Freshman of the Week. The shifty tailback is in promising company with this honor and is the most recent freshman from Iowa State to win the award since Breece Hall in 2019 when he rushed for 183 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the Cyclones’ win over Texas Tech.
After being absent in Iowa State’s loss to Kansas, Sama came back with a splash of a performance and became the first Iowa State running back to rush for over 100 yards since Jirehl Brock did so against Iowa in 2022.
In the eight games that he has seen time in, Sama has totaled 323 yards on 49 carries and three rushing touchdowns.
