Sam Scott’s Final Ride: Wyoming RB Returns to ‘Close the Chapter’ on His Terms
- Jeff Bugher
- Aug 13
- 5 min read
LARAMIE, Wyo. - Wedding bells rang for University of Wyoming running back Sam Scott in July 2024 when he married his bride, Anna. We really wanted to know the story behind why Sam decided to come back for his final year, especially because he could be starting his life beyond the field right now.
Why did Sam choose to come back for his final year?
“I feel like it's a chapter of my life that needs to be closed in a better way,” Scott said. “In a lot of ways, I felt embarrassment for how last season ended. 3-9’s nothing to be proud of, not even close to… feeling like you’ve done something. And I think… I just wasn’t really done with football yet. When you’re part of a place for four years, what hurts to have another year of just pursuing excellence… just being thankful for the game of football. I think I’ve been able to have a new perspective… why do I love the game of football? And why do I do it? Your last year is a special one, so I’m looking forward to closing it up.”
The 6-foot-2, 227-pound back from Omaha, Nebraska, led Wyoming in rushing last season with 435 yards on 92 carries, including three touchdowns on the ground and one through the air. Sam wasn’t even a highly touted starting running back when the season started in 2024. In fact, he was listed at third string behind DJ Jones and Jamari Ferrell on the depth chart in Tempe. Leading rusher? He was underutilized, yet still has that title. Sam only had ten total rushing attempts during the first three games. Additionally, injury forced him to miss games against New Mexico and Boise State.
DJ Jones? We almost forgot about him…he abruptly left the team after appearing in just four games.
Sam knows he’s not the only back in Wyoming’s loaded stable, and media attention often drifts toward transfers or flashy newcomers. But he isn’t interested in the noise.
Photos by Ian Cadena and Emily Gerlach
“There’s a lot of uncontrollables I could dwell on… what this person says or what that person says,” Sam said. “If I can just control what I can control and take it one step at a time, that’s the best route for myself… just going out there and playing football. At the end of the day, we’re all football players, we all just need to go out and perform. If I just focus on those things, there really is no stopping me if I give my 100%.”
One key figure in his preparation has been Wyoming’s new running backs coach.
Scott credits running backs coach Gary “Flea” Harrell, who came to Wyoming from Colorado during spring ball, for setting a clear standard.
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“I’m super glad he’s a part of this program,” Scott said. “He listens to us and things we might have concerns over. When we need to improve something, he’s right on it. He leaves no gray area. He just gets right to it, and I appreciate that.”
Scott’s path to being Wyoming’s starting running back was anything but conventional. He arrived in Laramie in 2021 as a linebacker, redshirting his first year. He played defense and special teams in 2022 before a late-season move to running back in the Arizona Bowl - he then carved out a role in the backfield by 2023. Yet, running back wasn’t something new to Sam, as he had played the position as a child and into high school, but defense was his ticket to getting recruited at the collegiate level.
“It’s definitely a surreal moment,” Scott said of his journey. “When you look back over the years, you’re like, how did I get here? But when you look at all the micro events… you begin to realize this is what I worked for, and this is what I’m meant for. I’m ready for the challenge, and it’s something I look forward to every single day.”
Football is a family affair for the Scotts. His parents, Rachel and Greg, sold their house and moved to a new district so Sam could attend a new school for a chance to play football during a pandemic-shortened high school season.
“They’re very loving parents, and I’m extremely grateful to have them in my corner,” Scott said. “When I was young and said I wanted to play college football, they took that very seriously. Everything I’ve been able to do is because of them and their sacrifice.”
Sam has big goals for his final season.
“I want to have a 1,000-yard season, I want to have 10 touchdowns,” he said. “I think as a room, we just need to set a goal for being able to score and get the ball in the end zone. That’s the biggest piece we need to take pride in.”
Those numbers are even more meaningful after his battle with injury last season, when knee issues lingered into this spring.
“It definitely took a toll on me,” Sam said. “It was kind of a question mark of, like, what’s the recovery process now? But I’ve been able to come back from that, and I’m fully healthy now… I’m looking forward to playing on a healthy knee and not having to worry about that.”
Head coach Jay Sawvel has assured the media that Wyoming will have a lot of depth at running back, so Sam knows he won’t have to carry every snap like he did oftentimes in 2024.
“I definitely feel like I can carry a large load, but the fact that we have a room talented enough to take on some of that… I’m overjoyed to know if I’m not on the field, I know I can step in and get the job done when needed. That’s what a winning team needs.”
Football is only part of Sam’s identity. His faith is central to who he is and how he’s weathered challenges.
“What’s important about my faith… is that it’s the standard of who I am and my identity,” Scott said. “I know, ultimately, football isn’t forever. I’m more than just the person who has to put on shoulder pads and a helmet. I can be a Christ-filled, Christ-centered person. My faith sets my identity in check.”
The fact that Sam stepped up, even after being overlooked, even after being relegated to third string to start the season, in addition to playing through injury… tells you everything you need to know about Sam Scott.
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