Tennessee running back declares for the 2025 NFL draft.
Tennessee junior running back Dylan Sampson declared for the 2025 NFL draft on Friday.
“I poured my heart and soul into this program and this community,” Sampson said. “With that being said, I will be declaring for the 2025 NFL draft.”
The 5-foot-11, 201-pound running back set the following single-season program records at Tennessee: Total touchdowns scored (22), points scored (132), rushing yards (1,491) and consecutive games with a rushing touchdown (11).
Sampson appeared in 35 games from 2022-24 at Tennessee. He recorded 2,492 rushing yards, 35 rushing touchdowns, 40 receptions, 342 receiving yards, one receiving touchdown and 28 kick return yards.
Sampson went to Tennessee from Dutchtown High School in Geismar, Louisiana.
Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson previews the Vols playing at Ohio State in the College Football Playoff.
Tennessee junior running back Dylan Sampson recorded a historic campaign during the 2024 regular season.
The 5-foot-11, 201-pound running back set the following single-season program records: Total touchdowns scored (22), points scored (132), rushing yards (1,485) and consecutive games with a rushing touchdown (11).
Sampson is the second player in Tennessee program history with 10 100-yard rushing games in a single season. Jay Graham totaled 11 in 1995.
He earned the following honors this season: SEC Offensive Player of the Year (AP, Coaches), USA TODAY SEC Player of the Year, All-America Second Team (The Athletic, Walter Camp) and All-SEC First Team (AP, Coaches).
Sampson met with media on Monday to kick off game week in preparation for Tennessee’s first-round College Football Playoff contest at Ohio State.
“This is everything we worked for in the offseason,” Sampson said. “This is was what we expected. This is what we grinded for and it doesn’t stop now. This wasn’t the goal to just get to this game, but we got to attack it the right way.”
Kickoff between the Vols and Buckeyes is scheduled for 8 p.m. EST at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.
Cooper Mays and Dylan Sampson named All-America by multiple outlets.
Two Tennessee football players received All-America honors from multiple outlets on Friday.
Center Cooper Mays and running back Dylan Sampson were both named Second-Team All-America by The Athletic.
Mays also received second-team honors from the American Football Coaches Association, while Sampson received second-team honors from the Walter Camp Football Foundation.
Mays is the fourth center in Tennessee program history to be named an All-American, and the first since Bob Johnson since 1967. Sampson is the 11th running back in Tennessee history to be named an All-American. He is the first to be recognized since Travis Stephens in 2001.
During Josh Heupel’s tenure as head coach, Tennessee has produced six All-Americans, the most in a in a four-year span since 2006-09. Heupel was named head coach in 2021.
Mays has been the Vols’ starting center for four consecutive seasons. He played 816 snaps according to PFF this season and did not allow a sack or a quarterback hit during the 2024 regular-season.
Sampson was named SEC Offensive Player of the Year by both the league’s coaches and the Associated Press this season.
Sampson led the SEC in rushing yards (1,485), rushing attempts (256), yards per game (123.8) and rushing touchdowns (22). His 22 rushing touchdowns represent a single-season record for the Vols.
The Saints should look to bolster their running backs room this offseason, and this Bleacher Report writer believes Dylan Sampson is a perfect fit:
Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski believes the New Orleans Saints are a perfect fit for Dylan Sampson, a popular prospect in the 2025 NFL draft. The last time the Saints drafted a running back from Tennessee, you could say it worked out alright. Sampson even wears the same No. 6 jersey that Alvin Kamara used with the Volunteers.
Right now the running back room includes Kamara, Kendre Miller and Jamaal Williams. Jordan Mims and Xazavian Valladay are also in the mix but they’ll both be free agents in the spring.
And Kamara is the only one guaranteed a spot next year. Williams being a cap casualty is a strong possibility when looking at his usage over the past two years. Miller’s injury history makes it hard to trust him even if he remains healthy to close the season. There will be a feeling in the back of the mind that’s hard to shake. Miller has the potential to be Kamara’s running mate, but if he suffers another injury, that would leave the Saints out to dry.
Seeing that Kamara could be on his final contract, investing in a running mate is a logical choice. Georgia coach Kirby Smart called Sampson “an elite runner.” He went on to directly compare Sampson to Kamara, saying, “And I know where he’s from, in Louisiana, they do nothing but have great backs from there. He reminds me so much of his run skill set of Kamara, of Alvin. He’s very smooth and elusive.”
Smart compared Sampson to Kamara in terms of elusiveness and smoothness. Worst-case, Sampson could work with Kamara and Miller as part of a three-headed rushing attack.
Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson named SEC Offensive Player of the Year.
The Southeastern Conference announced its football postseason individual awards on Wednesday, selected by the league’s 16 head coaches.
Tennessee junior running back Dylan Sampson was named SEC Offensive Player of the Year in 2024. Sampson recorded 1,485 rushing yards and scored 22 touchdowns on 256 attempts.
He also totaled 19 receptions for 141 yards.
2024 SEC football individual awards:
Offensive Player of the Year
Dylan Sampson, Tennessee
Defensive Player of the Year
Kyle Kennard, South Carolina
Special Teams Player of the Year
Alex Raynor, Kentucky
Freshman of the Year
LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina
Newcomer of the Year
Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt
Jacobs Blocking Trophy
Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas
Will Campbell, LSU
The regular-season of the 2024 college football season has concluded.
Tennessee (10-2, 6-2 SEC) defeated Vanderbilt (6-6, 3-5 SEC), 36-23, at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee during Week 14.
The Vols now await their College Football Playoff ranking and seeding.
Following Week 14 games, Vols Wire looks at statistical leaders in the Southeastern Conference. Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson ranks first in the SEC for rushing yards.
Below are the top five rushing yards leaders in the SEC after Week 14.
Tennessee ends regular-season play with win at Vanderbilt.
No. 8 Tennessee (10-2, 6-2 SEC) defeated Vanderbilt, 36-23, Saturday at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville. Tennessee.
The Vols led, 24-17, after trailing by 14 points in the first quarter.
With the victory, Tennessee likely earned a spot in the College Football Playoff.
The Commodores led, 7-0, after Junior Sherrill returned the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. Vanderbilt would extend its advantage to 14-0 when Sedrick Alexander scored on a 14-yard run. His touchdown was set up when Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson fumbled at the Vols; 26-yard line on the first possession.
The Vols pulled to within, 14-7, after quarterback Nico Iamaleava completed a 25-yard touchdown pass to Dont’e Thornton Jr. with 8 minutes, 46 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
Kicker Brock Taylor extended Vanderbilt’s lead to 17-7 with 4:01 remaining in the first quarter.
The Vols scored 17 unanswered points in the second quarter and never trailed again.
Iamaleava completed 18-of-26 passing attempts for 257 passing yards, four touchdowns and one interception.
Dylan Sampson was Tennessee’s leading rusher. He totaled 175 rushing yards on 25 attempts.
Chris Brazzell II totaled five receptions for 54 receiving yards, while Thornton Jr. recorded three receptions for 118 yards and two receiving touchdowns. Mike Matthews also recorded one touchdown reception for the Vols.
A look at SEC rushing yard leaders after Week 13 in 2024.
Week 13 of the 2024 college football season has concluded.
Tennessee (9-2, 5-2 SEC) will travel to face Vanderbilt (6-5, 3-4 SEC) at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, during Week 14.
Kickoff between the Vols and Commodores is slated for noon EST (ABC).
Following Week 13 games, Vols Wire looks at statistical leaders in the Southeastern Conference. Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson ranks first in the SEC for rushing yards.
Below are the top five rushing yards leaders in the SEC entering Week 14.
A look at SEC rushing yard leaders after Week 12 in 2024.
Week 12 of the 2024 college football season has concluded.
Tennessee (8-2, 5-2 SEC) will next host UTEP (2-8, 2-5 C-USA) at Neyland Stadium in Week 13 after losing at Georgia, 31-17. Kickoff between the Vols and Miners is slated for 1 p.m. EST (SEC Network +).
Following Week 12 games, Vols Wire looks at statistical leaders in the Southeastern Conference. Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson ranks first in the SEC for rushing yards.
Below are the top five rushing yards leaders in the SEC entering Week 13.
