Dylan Sampson – Page 3 – Syndication Server

2024 SEC rushing yard leaders after Week 2

Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson leads the SEC in rushing yards after Week 2.

Week 2 of the 2024 college football season concluded.

No. 9 Tennessee (2-0) will face Kent State (0-2) on Saturday at Neyland Stadium (7:30 p.m. EDT, SEC Network).

Rankings reflect the US LBM Coaches Poll.

Following Week 2 games, Vols Wire looks at statistical leaders in the Southeastern Conference. Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson leads the SEC in rushing yards after the Vols’ 51-10 win over North Carolina State.

Below are the top five rushing yard leaders in the SEC entering Week 3.

Dylan Sampson, Tennessee (256)
Ja’Quinden Jackson, Arkansas (250)
Henry Parrish Jr., Ole Miss (205)
Jam Miller, Alabama (194)
Montrell Johnson Jr., Florida (173)

2024 SEC football power rankings after Week 2 can be viewed here.

Dylan Sampson. Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Tennessee defeats North Carolina State in Duke’s Mayo Classic

Tennessee defeats North Carolina State in Week 2 of the 2024 college football season.

No. 12 Tennessee (2-0) defeated No. 23 North Carolina State (1-1), 51-10, Saturday in the Duke’s Mayo Classic at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The Vols led, 20-3, at halftime.

Tennessee redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava completed 16-of-23 passing attempts for 211 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He also recorded 65 rushing yards on eight attempts and scored a 31-yard rushing touchdown.

Dylan Sampson was the Vols’ leading rusher as he totaled 132 yards and two touchdowns on 20 rushing attempts. He also recorded three receptions for 37 yards.

Squirrel White recorded two receptions for 67 receiving yards, while Miles Kitselman totaled three receptions for 39 yards and one receiving touchdown.

The Vols’ defense forced three Wolfpack turnovers, including an 85-yard interception return by Will Brooks for a touchdown.

Max Gilbert converted three field goals for Tennessee.

2024 SEC rushing yard leaders after Week 1

Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson leads the SEC in rushing yards after Week 1.

Week 1 of the 2024 college football season concluded.

No. 12 Tennessee (1-0) is slated to play a top 25 matchup in Week 2. The Vols will face No. 23 North Carolina State (1-0) on Saturday at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina (7:30 p.m. EDT, ABC).

Rankings reflect the US LBM Coaches Poll.

Following Week 1 games, Vols Wire looks at statistical leaders in the Southeastern Conference. Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson leads the SEC in rushing yards after the Vols’ season opening, 69-3, win versus Chattanooga.

Below are top five rushing yard leaders in the SEC entering Week 2.

Dylan Sampson, Tennessee (124)
Montrell Johnson Jr., Florida (106)
Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt (104)
Justice Haynes, Alabama (102)
Ja’Quinden Jackson, Arkansas (101)

2024 SEC football power rankings after Week 1 can be viewed here.

Tennessee extends win streak when rushing for 200 yards

Tennessee football extended its win streak when rushing for 200 yards under Josh Heupel.

Josh Heupel opened his fourth season as Tennessee’s head coach with a 718-yard offensive performance against Chattanooga in Week 1.

Tennessee totaled 304 rushing yards on 46 attempts in its 69-3 victory versus the Mocs. The Vols averaged 6.6 yards per rushing attempt.

Running back Dylan Sampson led Tennessee with 124 rushing yards. He scored three rushing touchdowns on 12 attempts.

DeSean Bishop and Khalifa Keith also scored rushing touchdowns for the Vols in Week 1.

Tennessee extended its win streak against Chattanooga when rushing for 200 yards. Per the University of Tennessee, the Vols have produced 24 games recording 200 rushing yards under Heupel. Tennessee owns a 22-2 record and have won 16 consecutive games when totaling 200 rushing yards.

READ: 2024 SEC football power rankings after Week 1

Cameron Seldon. Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Tennessee totals 700-plus offensive yards versus Chattanooga

Tennessee football totals 700-plus offensive yards in win versus Chattanooga.

No. 15 Tennessee (1-0) defeated Chattanooga (0-1), 69-3, Saturday in the season opener for both schools at Neyland Stadium.

The Vols led, 45-0, at halftime.

Tennessee redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava completed 22-of-28 passing attempts for 314 yards and touchdowns in the first half of the contest against the Mocs.

Dylan Sampson was the Vols’ leading rusher as he totaled 124 yards and three touchdowns on 12 attempts.

Dont’e Thornton recorded three receptions for 105 yards and two touchdowns.

In his return from a season-ending injury suffered in 2023, Bru McCoy recorded six receptions for 89 receiving yards.

Tennessee tight end Ethan Davis totaled two receptions for 20 yards and one touchdown.

DeSean Bishop and Khalifa Keith also scored rushing touchdowns for Tennessee.

The Vols scored a special teams touchdown after Jordan Ross returned a blocked punt to the end zone.

Tennessee’s offense totaled 718 yards in the contest.

Jordan Ross. Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Dylan Sampson enters 2024 season as strong leader for Tennessee

Running back Dylan Sampson enters the 2024 season as a strong leader for Tennessee football.

Tennessee will kick off its 2024 football season on Aug. 31 versus Chattanooga at Neyland Stadium (12:45 p.m. EDT, SEC Network).

Running back Dylan Sampson enters his third season with the Vols.

At SEC media days, fourth-year Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel discussed Sampson’s role for the upcoming season.

“He will have increased opportunities,” Heupel said. “He’s a guy, from the moment that he got there, had great feel, pace and vision. He’s done a great job with the ball in his hands and out of his hands. He’s become a really good pass protector. He’s got the ability to help you in your return game, as well.

“After his freshman year, his ability to impact his teammates, Dylan is one of the strongest leaders that we have inside of our locker room. Just a dynamic personality that isn’t afraid to call on his teammates and make sure that they’re meeting the standards. He’s going to have a great year for us.”

Sampson made his first career start in Tennessee’s win against Iowa in the 2024 Cheez-It Citrus Bowl.

The 5-foot-11, 201-pound junior totaled 1,001 rushing yards, 13 rushing touchdowns, 20 receptions, one receiving touchdown and 24 kick return yards from 2022-23.

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.