Austyn Carta-Samuels became a starter at Wyoming during his true freshman season in 2009. Photo by Brendan Maloney-US PRESSWIRE
Most of the first-year Arizona Wildcats newcomers reported to fall camp Tuesday morning — with a few more expected to trickle in later, so there was no official count — and one of the potential new guys is an intriguing transfer quarterback.
Former Wyoming starting quarterback Austyn Carta-Samuels, the 2009 Mountain West Freshman of the Year, was listed on UA’s check-in sheet, although he had not reported as of 11 a.m. There was no confirmation that he would actually show up, so the possibility should be taken with several grains of salt.
Carta-Samuels left Wyoming after last season, although he never went into detail about his reasons. He wrote this in an e-mail to the Casper Star-Tribune:
“Please know that I have made this decision for personal reasons and that I have no regrets. This is the best decision for my growth and success going forward. There may well be speculation as to why I am leaving, I would simply state, with conviction, that I have given my heart and soul to the program and will always wish the very best for Poke Nation and the Wyoming Cowboys.”
He would have to sit out this season if he transfers to an FCS school, but he has a redshirt year available, retaining two years of eligibility.
Rutgers transfer quarterback Tom Savage, who arrived in Tucson for the second summer session, officially reported to camp Tuesday. He will redshirt this season and have two years to play at Arizona.
The Wildcats, even without Carta-Samuels, seem well-stocked at quarterback in the near future, with Savage in 2012 and 2013, possibly senior Matt Scott in 2012 (if he can redshirt behind Nick Foles this season), true freshman Daxx Garman and two committed quarterbacks in this recruiting class.
Carta-Samuels (6-2, 215) is a dual-threat quarterback. He completed 154 of 252 passes for 1,702 yards last season, with nine touchdowns and eight interceptions. He ran 119 times for 392 yards.
As a freshman, he completed 191 of 326 passes for 1,953 yards, with 10 touchdowns and five interceptions. He ran for 366 yards that season, helping lead the Cowboys to the New Mexico Bowl, where they defeated Fresno State.
Carta-Samuels, from San Jose, Calif., had been considering Vanderbilt and two other schools, according to this June story from the Laramie Boomerang.
Arizona football newcomers are off-limits for media interviews.