Two weeks and running for Carta-Samuels
At first glance, it looks a little surprising that Wyoming freshman quarterback Austyn Carta-Samuels was named Mountain West Conference Offensive Player of the year.
I say that because Carta-Samuels didn't throw a touchdown pass.
First glances can be deceiving, and in this case, it was. Carta-Samuels was 29 of 38 (76.3 percent) passing for 223 yards and had a quarterback rating of 120.35. He added 69 yards on the ground. He would have had nearly 100 yards if not for some QB sacks. He finished with 292 yards of offense.
Maybe the most impressive stat, though, was the fact that he led the Wyoming offense once again to a come-from-behind win with a gutsy 12-play, 91-yard scoring drive. On that winning drive with just under five minutes to play, the true freshman rushed for 28 yards and passed for 18 yards, accounting for half (46 yards) of Wyoming's 91 yards on the scoring drive.
He was clutch in a tough situation.
On the first possession, Carta-Samuels had his block knocked off, literally. OK, it was his helmet. But when he went to the sideline, he was cut and bruised. Wyoming trainers then glued him back together and he was the glue for the Wyoming offense for the second straight week.
"He looked like he had been in the Civil War with that band aid on his head," Wyoming head coach Dave Christensen said Monday during his weekly media teleconference. "He took a shot, his helmet came off in the first series and split his head open. We had to glue it back together. He didn't miss a play. He had a number of cuts, lacerations on his arms. He was hit a number of times, but he just kept coming back."
Christensen would prefer that Carta-Samuels doesn't take that much physical abuse each game ... he needs him to run the show. But he is assured that his QB can take a punch and fight back.
"We also have to deal with whatever it takes to win a football game," Christensen said. "I talked to him about some things he could do to alleviate some of those hits ... getting ready for the football and not having to make every single play. He makes a lot of plays and believes every play he can make. As the competition level increases, chances of that is going to go down."
It hasn't taken the California kid long to become Wyoming Tough.
"The respect you get from your teammates and the leadership that you provide when you do the things that he did ...," Christensen added.
Carta-Samuels has started just two games in his young collegiate career and he will only get better.
MWC Offensive Player of the Week. At this rate, Cowboy fans can get used to hearing that beside their quarterback's name.
I say that because Carta-Samuels didn't throw a touchdown pass.
First glances can be deceiving, and in this case, it was. Carta-Samuels was 29 of 38 (76.3 percent) passing for 223 yards and had a quarterback rating of 120.35. He added 69 yards on the ground. He would have had nearly 100 yards if not for some QB sacks. He finished with 292 yards of offense.
Maybe the most impressive stat, though, was the fact that he led the Wyoming offense once again to a come-from-behind win with a gutsy 12-play, 91-yard scoring drive. On that winning drive with just under five minutes to play, the true freshman rushed for 28 yards and passed for 18 yards, accounting for half (46 yards) of Wyoming's 91 yards on the scoring drive.
He was clutch in a tough situation.
On the first possession, Carta-Samuels had his block knocked off, literally. OK, it was his helmet. But when he went to the sideline, he was cut and bruised. Wyoming trainers then glued him back together and he was the glue for the Wyoming offense for the second straight week.
"He looked like he had been in the Civil War with that band aid on his head," Wyoming head coach Dave Christensen said Monday during his weekly media teleconference. "He took a shot, his helmet came off in the first series and split his head open. We had to glue it back together. He didn't miss a play. He had a number of cuts, lacerations on his arms. He was hit a number of times, but he just kept coming back."
Christensen would prefer that Carta-Samuels doesn't take that much physical abuse each game ... he needs him to run the show. But he is assured that his QB can take a punch and fight back.
"We also have to deal with whatever it takes to win a football game," Christensen said. "I talked to him about some things he could do to alleviate some of those hits ... getting ready for the football and not having to make every single play. He makes a lot of plays and believes every play he can make. As the competition level increases, chances of that is going to go down."
It hasn't taken the California kid long to become Wyoming Tough.
"The respect you get from your teammates and the leadership that you provide when you do the things that he did ...," Christensen added.
Carta-Samuels has started just two games in his young collegiate career and he will only get better.
MWC Offensive Player of the Week. At this rate, Cowboy fans can get used to hearing that beside their quarterback's name.
Comments