Dylan Sampson – Syndication Server

Vols shut out Iowa in Citrus Bowl

Tennessee shuts out Iowa in the Citrus Bowl.

No. 23 Tennessee (9-4, 4-4 SEC) defeated No. 17 Iowa (10-4, 7-2 Big Ten), 35-0, Monday in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida.

The Vols led, 14-0, at halftime as freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava, made his first career start. He scored two touchdown runs during the second quarter.

Iamaleava also had a 2-yard touchdown run in the third quarter to make the score, 21-0.

James Pearce Jr. scored on a 52-yard interception return with 14 minutes, 54 seconds remaining in the contest.

The Vols scored last with 4:48 remaining when Iamaleava completed an 18-yard touchdown pass to tight end McCallan Castles.

Iamaleava completed 12-of-19 passing attempts for 151 passing yards and one passing touchdown. He also totaled 15 rushing attempts for 27 yards and three touchdowns en route to being named the game’s Most Valuable Player.

Dylan Sampson, also making his first start at Tennessee, recorded 133 rushing yards on 20 attempts. Ramel Keyton led the Vols with three receptions for 51 yards.

Tennessee’s defense held the Hawkeyes to 173 total yards. Iowa was shut out for the second consecutive game and third time this season.

Dylan Sampson set to make first career start in Citrus Bowl

Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson set to make first career start in the Citrus Bowl.

Tennessee sophomore running back Dylan Sampson is projected to start in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl versus Iowa on Jan. 1, 2024.

The 5-foot-11, 190-pound running back appeared in 11 games for Tennessee during the 2023 regular-season. He recorded 471 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 86 attempts, while totaling 17 receptions for 175 yards and one touchdown.

“You know, I’m just blessed,” Sampson said of making his first start. “It’s time to go to work. It has been something I’ve been preparing for my whole time that I’ve been here, so I’m ready to go to work. Mindset has been the same, just be dominant. Go out there and show them who I am.”

Watch: Dylan Sampson previews 2024 Citrus Bowl

Watch: Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson previews the 2024 Citrus Bowl

Tennessee sophomore running back Dylan Sampson is projected to start in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl versus Iowa on Jan. 1, 2024.

Kickoff between the Vols and Hawkeyes is slated for 1 p.m. EST at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida. Dave Fleming (play-by-play), Brock Osweiler (analyst) and Kayla Burton (sideline) will be on the call.

READ: Tennessee-Iowa Citrus Bowl transfer portal and opt-outs tracker

Sampson met with media following the Vols’ practice on Thursday. His media availability can be watched below.

Ramel Keyton, Dylan Sampson sign NIL deals with Cheez-It ahead of Citrus Bowl

Ramel Keyton and Dylan Sampson sign NIL deals with Cheez-It ahead of the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl.

Tennessee senior wide receiver Ramel Keyton and sophomore running back Dylan Sampson have signed a name, image and likeness deal with Cheez-It for the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl.

Tennessee (8-4, 4-4 SEC) will play Iowa (10-3, 7-2 Big Ten) in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl on Jan. 1, 2024 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida.

Cheez-It press release:

The contract perks? An absurd, Cheez-It-ified makeover:

As an extension of the Cheez-It Flexin’ Section – a first-of-its-kind barbershop and spa-inspired experience right on the field, NIL player partners will have exclusive access to a players-only Cheez-It Flexin’Section, complete with their own bowl game barbershop staffed by all-star athlete barber Kenny Duncan for fresh, absurdly cheezy ‘cutz’ before the game—and of course an unlimited supply of Cheez-It.

Ramel Keyton. Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Dylan Sampson. Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Dylan Sampson discusses Tennessee’s ‘big’ road win against Kentucky

Running back Dylan Sampson discusses Tennessee’s road win against Kentucky.

Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson recorded 75 yards and one touchdown on 17 rushing attempts in the Vols’, 33-27, win at Kentucky.

He also recorded four receptions for 39 yards against the Wildcats.

The 5-foot-11, 190-pound sophomore discussed Tennessee being able to win on the road.

“It was good, we had to finish,” Sampson said. “I feel like this is a big step in getting where we need to go. We have a lot of things that we need to accomplish, but this was a big win for us as a team.”

Tennessee (6-2, 3-2 SEC) will next play UConn (1-7) in Week 10. Kickoff is slated for noon EDT and will be televised by SEC Network.

Josh Heupel recaps Dylan Sampson’s performance versus UTSA

Josh Heupel recaps Dylan Sampson’s performance versus UTSA in Week 4.

Sophomore running back Dylan Sampson recorded 139 yards and two touchdowns on 11 rushing attempts in Week 4 versus UTSA.

The 5-foot-11, 190-pound Sampson has totaled 199 yards and five touchdowns on 27 rushing attempts in 2023. He has also recorded three receptions for 38 yards and one touchdown.

Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel discussed Sampson’s performance in the Vols’, 45-14, win versus UTSA.

“Dylan has been a leader on the practice field and a leader in the locker room,” Heupel said. “Competitive and willing to do whatever to help the team. When he has the ball in his hands he’s done a good job of reading it. Delivering blocks. He made a backdoor cut tonight, his flow over the top happens. He’s really efficient in what he’s done. He’s going to continue to go up, too.”

No. 20 Tennessee defeats UTSA, 45-14

No. 20 Tennessee defeats UTSA, 45-14, at Neyland Stadium.

No. 20 Tennessee (3-1, 0-1 SEC) defeated UTSA (1-3, 0-0 AAC), 45-14, Saturday at Neyland Stadium.

Quarterback Joe Milton III scored an 81-yard rushing touchdown on Tennessee’s first offensive play of the contest.

The Vols scored 31 unanswered points in the first half.

Dylan Sampson scored on a 10-yard rushing touchdown in the first quarter.

Milton III completed a touchdown pass to Kaleb Webb, extending the Vols’ lead to 21-0 in the second quarter. Milton III also completed a 48-yard passing attempt for a touchdown to Ramel Keyton.

Charles Campbell kicked a field goal with 3 minutes, 21 seconds remaining in the first half.

Owen McCown recorded two touchdown passes to Joshua Cephus and Tykee Ogle-Kellogg in the second half for UTSA.

Jabari Small and Sampson recorded touchdown runs for the Vols in the fourth quarter.

Milton III completed 18-of-31 passing attempts for 209 passing yards and two passing touchdowns.

Sampson had a career-high 139 yards on 11 rushing attempts.

Tennessee’s defense forced three UTSA turnovers in the contest.

Josh Heupel details Dylan Sampson’s leadership

Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel details running back Dylan Sampson’s leadership.

Running back Dylan Sampson scored three rushing touchdowns and totaled 52 rushing yards versus Virginia in Week 1.

The 5-foot-11, 190-pound sophomore also recorded nine receiving yards and one receiving touchdown in the season-opening contest.

Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel met with media on Thursday and discussed Sampson’s leadership ability.

“It’s rare,” Heupel said. “His freshman year, he got here in the summer, he wasn’t a mid-year enrollee. He’s extremely bright, smart and has a great feel naturally at the position. You saw him help on special teams as well last year. This offseason he’s continued that growth. His energy has been infectious from day one.

“This offseason, he initially wasn’t a part of our leadership council, but what he did all winter and spring ball, we put him on our leadership council. He’s very confident in who he is, he knows what he’s doing, he knows who he is outside of the building, and he brings a great energy. He demands things of the guys around him. He’s willing to act. That’s the first step of leadership. He has a great football future and great leadership traits inside of our building. He’s been huge for us.”

Sampson appeared in 10 games for the Vols in 2022, recording 397 rushing yards, six rushing touchdowns, three receptions and 24 kick return yards.

PHOTOS: Tennessee football defeats Virginia in Nashville to open 2023 season

2023 SEC rushing yard leaders after Week 1

A look at 2023 SEC rushing yard leaders after Week 1.

No. 10 Tennessee (1-0, 0-0 SEC) defeated Virginia (0-1, 0-0 ACC), 49-13, during Week 1 at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee.

Tennessee will next play Austin Peay in Week 2. Kickoff between the Vols and Governors is slated for 5 p.m. EDT and can be watched on SEC Network+.

Tennessee’s home schedule has contests against Austin Peay, UTSA, South Carolina, Texas A&M, UConn, Georgia and Vanderbilt.

The Vols’ road schedule features games at Alabama, Florida, Kentucky and Missouri.

2023 Tennessee Vols football schedule: Downloadable smartphone wallpaper

PHOTOS: Tennessee football defeats Virginia in Nashville to open 2023 season

Following Week 1 contests, Vols Wire looks at SEC rushing yard leaders and are listed below.

Josh Heupel details Dylan Sampson’s four-touchdown performance

Josh Heupel details Dylan Sampson’s four-touchdown performance versus Virginia.

No. 10 Tennessee (1-0, 0-0 SEC) defeated Virginia (0-1, 0-0 ACC), 49-13, Saturday at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee.

Sophomore running back Dylan Sampson scored three rushing touchdowns and totaled 52 rushing yards for the Vols. He also recorded nine receiving yards and one receiving touchdown.

Sampson’s four touchdowns are the most by a Tennessee running back since John Kelly Jr. recorded four touchdowns versus Georgia Tech in 2017.

“That’s a good way to start if you’re a running back,” Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel said of Sampson’s performance. “All three of those guys played extremely well. I thought Jaylen Wright ran as physical as he has. The things that we saw in training camp, I thought we saw today. He did a great job of hitting holes, running through arm tackles and on the third level too. Jabari Small did a fantastic job.

“Dylan Sampson gets the four touchdowns, which is super productive for him. I love what he’s doing. The strength of that room can never be one guy. All of those guys are going to be extremely important, and you can see that based on the number of touches all of those guys got.”

PHOTOS: Tennessee running backs through the years

PHOTOS: Tennessee defeats Virginia in Nashville