Did all the FB Transfers find a home?

[IowaState88]

Well I think there was many, many times Sama just couldn't get around the corner and break it down field. You could see it coming almost everytime. Hansen was clearly north and south and didn't run for negative yards very often.

Many of us thought he would develop more than what he did. It looked like his vision really never improved, and kept wanting to bounce the run around the corner instead of just hitting the hole and trusting his speed. Now he was better at that towards the end of the season, but as many times he ran the ball, he had a lot of negative and 1 or 2 yard runs.

He averaged 5.2 ypc. You don’t get there if you’re taking “a ton” of negative or 1–2 yard runs. That kind of inefficiency would drag that down quick.

The whole “bouncing everything outside” narrative feels a bit overdone too, especially this past year. His sophomore year, sure, but last year he was much more north-south.

Was his vision perfect? No. But he was still a very efficient back who gave us a ton of positive production. Feels like people remember the frustrating reps and ignore the overall output.

 

[bozclone]

He averaged 5.2 ypc. You don’t get there if you’re taking “a ton” of negative or 1–2 yard runs. That kind of inefficiency would drag that down quick.

The whole “bouncing everything outside” narrative feels a bit overdone too, especially this past year. His sophomore year, sure, but last year he was much more north-south.

Was his vision perfect? No. But he was still a very efficient back who gave us a ton of positive production. Feels like people remember the frustrating reps and ignore the overall output.

Feels like everyone labeled him early in his sophomore year and didn’t notice the improvement he made last year. Roehl cut his carries as a sophomore and Sama learned from it. He was a very good back last year. I wish he would have returned to Iowa State because I think he is going to have a big year.

 

[casey1973]

He averaged 5.2 ypc. You don’t get there if you’re taking “a ton” of negative or 1–2 yard runs. That kind of inefficiency would drag that down quick.

The whole “bouncing everything outside” narrative feels a bit overdone too, especially this past year. His sophomore year, sure, but last year he was much more north-south.

Was his vision perfect? No. But he was still a very efficient back who gave us a ton of positive production. Feels like people remember the frustrating reps and ignore the overall output.

He averaged 5.2 ypc. You don’t get there if you’re taking “a ton” of negative or 1–2 yard runs. That kind of inefficiency would drag that down quick.

The whole “bouncing everything outside” narrative feels a bit overdone too, especially this past year. His sophomore year, sure, but last year he was much more north-south.

Was his vision perfect? No. But he was still a very efficient back who gave us a ton of positive production. Feels like people remember the frustrating reps and ignore the overall output.

He averaged 5.2 ypc. You don’t get there if you’re taking “a ton” of negative or 1–2 yard runs. That kind of inefficiency would drag that down quick.

The whole “bouncing everything outside” narrative feels a bit overdone too, especially this past year. His sophomore year, sure, but last year he was much more north-south.

Was his vision perfect? No. But he was still a very efficient back who gave us a ton of positive production. Feels like people remember the frustrating reps and ignore the overall output.

Lol I didn't say he was an awful player. You just said his vision wasn't perfect. I said it was tough for him to cut it outside at times....

 

[demoncore1031]

Anyone know where Major Cantrell ended up at? I would love to watch him play for a lower level program as a running back or slot WR.

 

[1SEIACLONE]

He averaged 5.2 ypc. You don’t get there if you’re taking “a ton” of negative or 1–2 yard runs. That kind of inefficiency would drag that down quick.

The whole “bouncing everything outside” narrative feels a bit overdone too, especially this past year. His sophomore year, sure, but last year he was much more north-south.

Was his vision perfect? No. But he was still a very efficient back who gave us a ton of positive production. Feels like people remember the frustrating reps and ignore the overall output.

Not really, when you look at his stats, he would have one large run a game, and then do nothing for many of his runs. He had runs of 44, 20, 28, 38 and 40, those runs really skewed his overall performance. When he didn't break off the long run in the other half of the games he was held in check. He finished the season with 140 for 732 and 5.2 average with 5 touchdowns. He only had one game over a hundred yards rushing, 177 and another at 96.

Abu Sama III 2025 Stats per Game - NCAAF - ESPN

The 2025 NCAAF season stats per game for Abu Sama III of the Iowa State Cyclones on ESPN. Includes full stats, per opponent, for regular and postseason.

www.espn.com

 

[cycloneman003]

Anyone know where Major Cantrell ended up at? I would love to watch him play for a lower level program as a running back or slot WR.

Looks like Fort Hayes State

Tigers add Pitt State QB to roster

Hays Post SportsFort Hays State has landed another quarterback for the upcoming 2026 season. Reigning MIAA Offensive Player of the Year Jack

hayspost.com

 

[3TrueFans]

Not really, when you look at his stats, he would have one large run a game, and then do nothing for many of his runs. He had runs of 44, 20, 28, 38 and 40, those runs really skewed his overall performance. When he didn't break off the long run in the other half of the games he was held in check. He finished the season with 140 for 732 and 5.2 average with 5 touchdowns. He only had one game over a hundred yards rushing, 177 and another at 96.

Abu Sama III 2025 Stats per Game - NCAAF - ESPN

The 2025 NCAAF season stats per game for Abu Sama III of the Iowa State Cyclones on ESPN. Includes full stats, per opponent, for regular and postseason.

www.espn.com

Yeah if you don’t count the long runs he wasn’t very good, or something.

 

[cycloneman003]

Yeah if you don’t count the long runs he wasn’t very good, or something.

Think the point is more that he was feast or famine. 5.2ypc doesn’t mean he was knocking out 5 yards every time he got the ball. One 40 yarder masks lots of nothing plays.

His explosiveness is top notch but there are plenty of fair criticisms of his game to be made

 

[AuH2O]

Think the point is more that he was feast or famine. 5.2ypc doesn’t mean he was knocking out 5 yards every time he got the ball. One 40 yarder masks lots of nothing plays.

His explosiveness is top notch but there are plenty of fair criticisms of his game to be made

He got a lot more decisive last year and ran very physically. His vision isn’t great, and still strings out plays too much.

 

[12191987]

I was thinking recently: how many of these ISU transfers would PSU have wanted during the last portal season if Campbell wasn't their coach?

I won't be cheering for them but I am quite interested to see how they do this year. Bringing James Madison's roster to the Big 10 worked out for Indiana, so maybe this will work too.

If Campbell augments the ISU guys with a 2nd team all-Big 10, NFL 7th round draft caliber QB this season and follows it up with a Heisman winning QB next year PSU will win a lot of games.

 

[CySmurf]

I could win 9-10 games as HC at Pedo St with that cupcake schedule they have.

9 or 10??
He'd better win 11 or 12 at least with that schedule. He wins 9, fans will be pissed already...well, re-reading that, YOU might win 9 or 10. In that case, good job!

 

[drmwevr08]

Looks like Fort Hayes State

Tigers add Pitt State QB to roster

Hays Post SportsFort Hays State has landed another quarterback for the upcoming 2026 season. Reigning MIAA Offensive Player of the Year Jack

hayspost.com

What the hell is that?

 

[hiltonisheaven]

Looks like Fort Hayes State

Tigers add Pitt State QB to roster

Hays Post SportsFort Hays State has landed another quarterback for the upcoming 2026 season. Reigning MIAA Offensive Player of the Year Jack

hayspost.com

Jackson Berry?

 

[every_yard]

If PSU wins 10+ games, it’s pretty obvious the Big 10 isn’t this amazing conference compared to the supposed lesser conferences. That exact time roster could only win 8 games in the Bug 12.

 

[Rural]

10 games, 12 games, whatever, 6-6 or 7-5 he gets fired.

 

[cycloneman003]

What the hell is that?

Jackson Berry?

Gotta actually read fellas. Further in the article…

“Berry the second Division I signal caller to transfer to FHSU, joining Major Cantrell who spent two seasons as a backup at Iowa State.”

Only mention to be found of Cantrell online

 

[hiltonisheaven]

Gotta actually read fellas. Further in the article…

“Berry the second Division I signal caller to transfer to FHSU, joining Major Cantrell who spent two seasons as a backup at Iowa State.”

Only mention to be found of Cantrell online

Good catch

 

[alexssdean12]

Think the point is more that he was feast or famine. 5.2ypc doesn’t mean he was knocking out 5 yards every time he got the ball. One 40 yarder masks lots of nothing plays.

His explosiveness is top notch but there are plenty of fair criticisms of his game to be made

This is why averages don't always tell the full picture. I wish there was a medium run per carry stat.

 

[cytor]

The Ped State schedule this year is embarrassing. The B1G should be ashamed of themselves putting that together. They might not face a ranked team the entire year. That's nearly impossible to do in a P4 conference. (Iowa: Hold my beer).

 

[clone52]

Not really, when you look at his stats, he would have one large run a game, and then do nothing for many of his runs. He had runs of 44, 20, 28, 38 and 40, those runs really skewed his overall performance. When he didn't break off the long run in the other half of the games he was held in check. He finished the season with 140 for 732 and 5.2 average with 5 touchdowns. He only had one game over a hundred yards rushing, 177 and another at 96.

Abu Sama III 2025 Stats per Game - NCAAF - ESPN

The 2025 NCAAF season stats per game for Abu Sama III of the Iowa State Cyclones on ESPN. Includes full stats, per opponent, for regular and postseason.

www.espn.com

You'd really have to break down every play to compare the two, but if you list just the big runs, you can make theh same argument about HHansen. Runs of 65, 38, 28, 24 and 25 really skewed his stats as well. Sama's top 5 were 44, 40, 38, 28 and 20.

Take out each of their top 5 longest play (1 per game) and Sama averaged 4.16 yards per carry. Hansen averaged 4.21 yards per carry. Still very close.

Overall, Hansen lossed 21 yards on the season. Sama lost 33 yards on the. With fewer carries, Sama was prone to more yardage lost, but it was not a huge number for either of them.

I'm not saying Sama was better than Hansen but I do really agree with folks in thinking Sama's flaws were way overblown. He was a pretty darn good RB too.