Wyoming QB Carta-Samuels Leaves Program

The rumors have come to fruition - UW announces today in a press conference that quarterback Austyn Carta-Samuels has left the program.    Story below from ESPN:

Wyoming starting quarterback Austyn Carta-Samuels has decided to transfer after a tumultuous sophomore season that ended in disappointment.

Speculation swirled in December that Carta-Samuels was headed out of Laramie. But coach Dave Christensen said his quarterback was staying. He was under that impression until Monday, when spring classes started and Carta-Samuels informed Christensen he would not return to the team in 2011.

“I had met with Austyn at the end of the season,” Christensen said in a statement issued through the school. “After our meeting, he had indicated he was excited to be a Cowboy, and had already signed up for his spring lifting schedule.

“While it is disappointing to our team and Wyoming fans that Austyn has made this decision, if you are in this business long enough as a coach you face situations where young men choose to transfer. We wish Austyn the best in his future."

In an interview with the Laramie Boomerang, Carta-Samuels declined to say why he decided to leave. He said he would enroll in a junior college and work with a quarterbacks coach and former Ole Miss quarterback Jeremiah Masoli with the hopes of playing football again.

“After the season, I made a tough decision that it was best for me not to come back, and I promise that it wasn’t for the wrong reasons,” Carta-Samuels told the newspaper.

As a freshman in 2009, Carta-Samuels threw for 1,953 yards, 10 touchdowns and five interceptions, leading the Cowboys to a bowl game. But this past season, Wyoming went 3-9 and Carta-Samuels struggled, throwing nine touchdown passes, eight interceptions and 1,702 yards. He also missed a game with a concussion.

His transfer leaves Wyoming thin at quarterback. Nobody on the roster has taken a snap in a collegiate game. The Cowboys have now lost their best offensive and defensive players. Wyoming announced last week that starting strong safety Shamiel Gary has also left the team.

(via ESPN.com)