Abu Sama

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. 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.

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. The following season, he ran for 1,408 yards and 28 touchdowns, averaging more than 10 yards per touch. 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. Sama was named the Des Moines Register Player of the Year, the Gatorade Iowa Player of the Year, first-team all-state and was chosen to play in the US Army Bowl. Ranked a three-star recruit, he committed to play college football for the Iowa State Cyclones over other offers.

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. 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. He was named the Big 12 Conference Offensive Player of the Week and the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week for his performance.