Dylan Sampson began as a three-star recruit and quickly started breaking records during his high school years. When he moved into the Tennessee Volunteers’ backfield, his standout play continued. Now, he is looking ahead at the next step in his career, hoping to hear his name get called during the upcoming NFL Draft.
Height: 5 ft – 8 in
Weight: 200 lb
Age: 20
Position: Running Back
College: Tennessee
College Career Summary:
Every year that Sampson spent in Tennessee, he got better. In his freshman campaign, he appeared in 10 games but took just 58 rush attempts as a backup. Despite the limited role, he still found a way to rush for just under seven yards per carry and six touchdowns. The following season, he got more of an opportunity, receiving twice as many rushes as the previous year. And he didn’t waste those extra touches, rushing for just over 600 yards and seven touchdowns. Finally, we have come to the 2024 season. He appeared in 12 games, rushed over 250 times, and racked up 1,485 yards and a whopping 22 touchdowns alongside it. He’s also been able to top his number of receptions in each season that he’s spent in college. Thanks to all of these numbers, he’s been added to the Second-Team All-American squad and the First-Team All-SEC squad. We can’t forget about him winning the SEC Offensive Player of the Year award.
2024 Season
Games Played: 12
Yards: 1,485 rushing, 141 receiving
Touchdowns: 22 rushing, zero receiving
Career Stats:
- 34 games played
- 2,486 rushing yards
- 36 total touchdowns
- 420 rush attempts
- 39 receptions
Passing/Rushing/Receiving/Defensive Metrics:
- 9 yards per carry throughout his career
- 7 yards per reception throughout his career
- 340 career receiving yards
Strengths:
- Surprising power as a pass protector
- Impressive contact balance despite size
- Fantastic burst through the hole
- Advanced zone-read patience
- Excels in short-yardage situations
- Solid processing speed pre-snap
Weaknesses:
- Ball security is a concern
- Undersized at 190 pounds
- Pass protection recognition needs improvement
- Can get too cute when cutting back runs
High Pressure Situations/Clutch Gene:
Sampson unfortunately didn’t get to show what he could do in a pivotal game against the eventual National Champions in Ohio State during the first round of the playoffs. He just took two carries for six yards and caught one pass for two additional yards. He suffered an injury and attempted to keep fighting through it during the game, but he just wasn’t able to gut it out despite the effort. Earlier in the season, against the 12th-ranked Georgia Bulldogs, he took 19 carries for 101 yards and a touchdown in a double-digit loss. Just a few weeks earlier, he helped Tennessee beat Alabama by a score of 24-17 thanks to him taking 26 rushes and turning them into 139 yards and two touchdowns. Sampson is a proven fighter and warrior in big games and situations, and it’s a shame that we weren’t able to see what he could do against Ohio State in the postseason. In 2023, he did get to battle it out in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, stomping Iowa by a score of 35-0 thanks to Sampson’s 20 carries for 133 yards.
NFL Projection And Fantasy Relevance:
Sampson is currently projected to hear his name get called at some point in the third round. Some mock drafts have seen Sampson get called in the later second round, but almost all of them point to a third-round or later pick. He’s the type of player who can fit into several different offensive schemes, which makes him a good target for many teams who require a running back. When it comes to fantasy relevance, Sampson is certainly a player to aim for in both standard and dynasty formats. There’s a solid opportunity for him to appear on the football field as a rookie, regardless of the team that he gets drafted to. In terms of dynasty formats, he has the potential to be utilized for multiple years, even if he’s on a committee. For those in need of stacking up on the running back position in the upcoming dynasty drafts, then try and take a shot at Sampson if possible.
There’s a lot of potential with Sampson, considering that he’s been getting better each year in college. He didn’t receive a ton of touches as a freshman but still made routine impact plays. This continued through his sophomore and junior seasons, with the most recent campaign being his most effective and productive by a long shot. I’d say that he has the talent necessary to take his game to another level higher than what it is right now, even if he still has faults in his overall game. This is a player who is proven to give it everything he has on the field, trying multiple times to battle back in a playoff game against the eventual National Champs, despite an injury that limited what he could do. If I’m a scout on an NFL team that needs to acquire some much-needed help in the backfield, then Sampson is a great later-round selection. Tennessee played some tough competition over the years, and Sampson never backed down from that, which should have prepared him quite nicely for the next level. What is even more impressive is what he can do off the field. He showed great focus and is no doubt going to fit in wherever he lands. He was a noted academic standout and even a community service leader during his time in college, something that should not be taken lightly when looking over what he can provide for a team. His locker room presence and ability to help out the community skyrocket his opportunity to become a fan favorite for a fan base. Sampson is one of those players that many believe will be taken in the third round or later, but I wouldn’t be entirely surprised to see a squad jump at him in the second if they fall in love with his skills.