Abu Sama is bringing a different kind of running style to Wisconsin, and the Badgers are betting on it.
The projected RB1 stands 5-foot-11 and 210 pounds, but that frame only tells part of the story. Sama runs with power, yet his game is built on movement and variety.
He can lower his shoulder and go through contact, but he’s just as likely to jump a defender, spin away from trouble, or leave somebody reaching with a stiff arm. In open space, he’s the kind of back who can make a defense look stuck in place.
That blend of size and wiggle is part of what makes him such an interesting fit in Madison. His background is unique, too: both of Sama’s parents are from Africa, and his family has plenty of athletic talent running through it, including an older brother who ran track at Iowa State.
When Mike Heller of Badger Connect asked Sama which NFL players shaped his game, the answer came from two backs he watches closely now: Le'Veon Bell and Alvin Kamara. Sama said he didn’t watch a ton of football growing up, but those two names stood out to him.
The Bell comparison makes sense right away. The former Steelers star built his reputation on patience, waiting behind the line until the blocking opened up before exploding into a lane. Sama shows that same kind of feel on his Iowa State film, where the stop-start rhythm and vision jump off the screen.
Kamara is a fitting pick for a different reason. The Saints back made his name as a shifty, versatile weapon who could hurt defenses as a runner and a pass-catcher, far outplaying his third-round draft slot. Sama’s game doesn’t copy either player exactly, but the influence is easy to spot.
“I try to do it all. Whatever I need to do to score or get the first down in that situation," he told Heller.
"If I need to jump over somebody, if I need to spin, if I need to go through somebody, make a move, I’m gonna do what I need to do. God has definitely blessed me with a lot of abilities, and I’ve put in a lot of work with my brothers to be able to do what I can do right now.
It’s just a matter of me showcasing what I can do.”
That chance should be there this fall. Wisconsin projects Sama as its top back, and in an offense that should lean heavily on the ground game, he’ll have plenty of opportunities to show exactly why his style stands out.
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