Iowa State football head coach Matt Campbell discussed an array of topics during the team’s media day on Friday, but his comments about underclassman running back Abu Sama stood out.
Campbell was asked about the sophomore Cyclone’s “quiet” personality, which dates back to his days as a star at Southeast Polk High School, and if he wants Sama to become more vocal as his role in the offense grows.
His answer turned into praise for Sama’s growth and excitement for the type of player he could become.
“What Abu is quiet in is maybe in is his voice, he is loud in terms of, you know, who he is and what his heart’s about and what his mannerisms about how he goes about his game and business,” Campbell said. “So I don’t think you ever want to try to change anybody, you know, and that’s never going to be my ask of that because I think everybody can compete differently and everybody can express themselves differently.
“I think the big thing for Abu that is the rewarding part of it is you see his talent and his ability and you know what his heart is and you know what he stands for as a human being and as a man. I think the fun thing that you do challenge Abu in is his growth as a football player because you see the spurts of excellence. How do we repeatedly get ourselves into that? … Abu was such a multi-sport athlete. … Probably until we got to the end of his senior year, we didn’t know if he was going to be a great tailback or a great corner. We just knew he was this great athlete. And I think what the fun thing about Abu is he’s he’s learning to become a great football player.
“And that’s the thing I really love about him because he’s also got that willingness and curiosity to ask the question of, ‘Hey coach, how do I get better? Where do I need to get myself better?’ And that part I really do appreciate about him because it goes back to what’s his heart? What’s he about? What’s he stand for? And so, yeah, I’m really proud of him … I think his evolution will come just as a football player continuing to learn the game, continue to be, you know, cognizant of what it takes to become a great tailback and a great running back at this level and he’s worked really hard at that this offseason. It’s gonna be really fun to watch his, you know, what that work looks like and what the payoff will be for him this this fall.”
More: Abu Sama focused on growth after breakout freshman season with Iowa State football
Sama was named to 247Sports’ True Freshman All-America team in 2023 after rushing 59 times for six touchdowns and 548 yards, earning a staggering 9.3 yards per carry average.
His five touchdown runs of 50 yards or more were the most by a Cyclone in a single season since 1971, according to the ISU Athletics website.
The 5-foot-11, 200-pound running back was a star at Southeast Polk. He was named Iowa’s 2022 Gatorade Player of the Year and helped his team win back-to-back state titles in 2021 and 2022, the second of which he set state title game records in rushing yards 372 and touchdowns (six).
That same season, Sama rushed for 1,408 yards and 28 touchdowns en route to being named the Des Moines Register Player of the Year.
Campbell’s mention of multi-sport excellence is evidenced by Sama’s two long jump state titles (2021, 2022) and breaking the state long-jump record, which stood since 1984, in 2022 with a leap of 24-feet-10-inches.
Gus Martin is a Digital Producer/Content Director for The Des Moines Register. Follow him on X at @GusMartin_DMR.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa State football’s Matt Campbell praises Abu Sama during media day
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