Tennessee Relies on Dylan Sampson: Can the Star Running Back Lead the Vols to Victory at Ohio State?

Tennessee’s football team has leaned heavily on Dylan Sampson throughout this season. The question now is whether the dynamic running back can propel the Volunteers to victory in a high-stakes College Football Playoff matchup against Ohio State.

Sampson, a standout from Geismar, Louisiana, reflected on his journey to Tennessee, acknowledging the twists and turns that ultimately brought him to Knoxville. “They were my second offer when I was a sophomore in high school, but they were off my list,” he said. “I didn’t feel like it was a place I could grow and develop. There was too much stuff going on.”

When pressed on what “stuff” meant, Sampson laughed and replied, “You can look it up. We’re still dealing with the stuff from the last staff. It’s no disrespect or hate. We just never built a relationship after I got offered, and I didn’t feel like they wanted me for real.”

A Program Rebuilds

Tennessee’s tumultuous period included firing former head coach Jeremy Pruitt after an internal investigation uncovered multiple Level I NCAA violations. This scandal marked a low point for the program, but Sampson’s view changed when Tennessee hired Josh Heupel. The young running back saw potential in Heupel’s vision and the opportunity to grow within the SEC.

During a visit in June 2021, Sampson witnessed Heupel’s approach to building relationships firsthand. While on campus, his host—then-sophomore running back Jabari Small—received a FaceTime call from his mother. Heupel stopped to greet her, engaging in a brief but genuine conversation. “That was small, but it showed to me how much he was valuing trying to build relationships. And they valued me, too,” Sampson recalled in an interview with The Athletic.

At the time, Tennessee was at a crossroads, fresh off a coaching change and lacking proven success under Heupel. Yet, Sampson believed. “Me and a lot of guys in my class blindly committed to a program that hadn’t played a game yet,” he said. “He’s still trying to get guys to buy in and trust his vision.”

Faith in the Future

As a four-star recruit and the seventh-highest-rated prospect in Heupel’s first full recruiting class, Sampson relied on faith to make his decision. Offers from schools like South Carolina, Arkansas, Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, NC State, and Louisville were tempting, but he leaned on his relationship with then-running backs coach Jerry Mack, now the head coach at Kennesaw State. “It was just a faith kind of thing. I took a chance,” Sampson explained.

That leap of faith has paid off in ways Sampson could hardly have imagined.

This season, Sampson shattered school records, including 22 rushing touchdowns and 1,485 rushing yards—both all-time highs at Tennessee. With another touchdown in Saturday’s game against Ohio State, he could tie Tim Tebow and Tre Mason for third-most single-season rushing touchdowns in SEC history. Only Derrick Henry and Najee Harris have achieved more. With 35 career touchdowns, Sampson is also closing in on Gene McEver’s record as Tennessee’s all-time leading scorer.

An Unstoppable Force

Sampson’s skill set—marked by speed, shiftiness, power, and balance—makes him a nightmare for opposing defenses. “He breaks so many tackles,” an anonymous coach noted in a scouting report earlier this year. “People think the line is great, but he creates explosive plays by breaking tackles.”

According to Pro Football Focus, over 62% of Sampson’s rushing yards (927) this season came after contact, ranking him seventh nationally. Despite logging only five runs longer than 30 yards, his consistent production has kept defenses on edge. Sampson has scored multiple touchdowns in seven games this year and contributed 19 receptions in the passing game, making him an indispensable part of Tennessee’s offense.

The Volunteers’ offensive success often hinges on their running game. When Sampson gets rolling, opposing defenses struggle to keep pace, opening up opportunities for Tennessee’s other playmakers. His reliability has eased the pressure on redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who is still finding his footing in the SEC.

A Season to Remember

Sampson’s contributions this season have been nothing short of remarkable. His 256 carries rank ninth nationally, and his consistency is evident: he has surpassed 90 rushing yards in every game against Power 4 competition and recorded only one outing exceeding 150 yards. That standout performance came in the regular-season finale against Vanderbilt, where he racked up 178 yards to secure Tennessee’s Playoff bid.

“I don’t know if I even have the words to describe D-Samp and what he means to our team,” Heupel said. “He’s special, man. He’s played the position this year as well as anybody I’ve ever had.”

Sampson’s journey has been one of growth and resilience. As a freshman, he played a supporting role in an offense that reached No. 1 in the CFP poll and won 11 games for the first time since 2001. That season culminated in an Orange Bowl victory over Clemson—the program’s most significant bowl win since its 1998 national title under Phillip Fulmer. As a sophomore, Sampson formed part of a three-headed rushing attack alongside Small and Jaylen Wright, combining for over 2,000 yards.

“That’s good on your body,” Sampson said of the shared workload. “And I knew all I had to do was take care of business, and I’d be the starting running back this year.”

Loyalty in the Modern Era

In today’s era of NIL deals and transfer portals, staying committed to a program is no longer a one-time decision. Players must reaffirm their loyalty repeatedly, resisting the lure of outside offers. Before Tennessee’s dominant 35-0 win over Iowa in last year’s Citrus Bowl, Sampson received inquiries from coaches at other major programs. “They sent me messages on Instagram asking if I was interested in the portal,” he revealed.

Sampson’s response? He left them on read. “I’m more of a grand scheme type of person. The things I think I can do, I have the best chance to accomplish here,” he said. “I’m more of a long-term thinker. The best things, you’ve gotta wait for them.”

His dedication has not gone unnoticed by his teammates. Senior wide receiver Bru McCoy described Sampson as a model of humility and consistency. “He’s one of those guys that he could have no touches and zero touchdowns, and he’d still be the same guy he is with 20. Him staying humble, grounded, and not acting like he’s accomplishing what he’s accomplishing has done a lot for the team,” McCoy said. “He’s an incredible teammate.”

What’s Next?

As Sampson approaches the Ohio State matchup, questions about his future loom large. Will this be his final season in a Tennessee uniform? When asked, Sampson smiled and offered a cryptic response. “I’m with my team right now,” he said with a laugh.

Regardless of what the future holds, Sampson’s impact on Tennessee football is undeniable. His records, leadership, and unrelenting work ethic have set a standard for future Volunteers. With a playoff game against Ohio State on the horizon, Sampson has one more chTennessee Relies on Dylan Sampson: Can the Star Running Back Lead the Vols to Victory at Ohio State?

Tennessee’s football team has leaned heavily on Dylan Sampson throughout this season. The question now is whether the dynamic running back can propel the Volunteers to victory in a high-stakes College Football Playoff matchup against Ohio State.

Sampson, a standout from Geismar, Louisiana, reflected on his journey to Tennessee, acknowledging the twists and turns that ultimately brought him to Knoxville. “They were my second offer when I was a sophomore in high school, but they were off my list,” he said. “I didn’t feel like it was a place I could grow and develop. There was too much stuff going on.”

When pressed on what “stuff” meant, Sampson laughed and replied, “You can look it up. We’re still dealing with the stuff from the last staff. It’s no disrespect or hate. We just never built a relationship after I got offered, and I didn’t feel like they wanted me for real.”

A Program Rebuilds

Tennessee’s tumultuous period included firing former head coach Jeremy Pruitt after an internal investigation uncovered multiple Level I NCAA violations. This scandal marked a low point for the program, but Sampson’s view changed when Tennessee hired Josh Heupel. The young running back saw potential in Heupel’s vision and the opportunity to grow within the SEC.

During a visit in June 2021, Sampson witnessed Heupel’s approach to building relationships firsthand. While on campus, his host—then-sophomore running back Jabari Small—received a FaceTime call from his mother. Heupel stopped to greet her, engaging in a brief but genuine conversation. “That was small, but it showed to me how much he was valuing trying to build relationships. And they valued me, too,” Sampson recalled in an interview with The Athletic.

At the time, Tennessee was at a crossroads, fresh off a coaching change and lacking proven success under Heupel. Yet, Sampson believed. “Me and a lot of guys in my class blindly committed to a program that hadn’t played a game yet,” he said. “He’s still trying to get guys to buy in and trust his vision.”

Faith in the Future

As a four-star recruit and the seventh-highest-rated prospect in Heupel’s first full recruiting class, Sampson relied on faith to make his decision. Offers from schools like South Carolina, Arkansas, Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, NC State, and Louisville were tempting, but he leaned on his relationship with then-running backs coach Jerry Mack, now the head coach at Kennesaw State. “It was just a faith kind of thing. I took a chance,” Sampson explained.

That leap of faith has paid off in ways Sampson could hardly have imagined.

This season, Sampson shattered school records, including 22 rushing touchdowns and 1,485 rushing yards—both all-time highs at Tennessee. With another touchdown in Saturday’s game against Ohio State, he could tie Tim Tebow and Tre Mason for third-most single-season rushing touchdowns in SEC history. Only Derrick Henry and Najee Harris have achieved more. With 35 career touchdowns, Sampson is also closing in on Gene McEver’s record as Tennessee’s all-time leading scorer.

An Unstoppable Force

Sampson’s skill set—marked by speed, shiftiness, power, and balance—makes him a nightmare for opposing defenses. “He breaks so many tackles,” an anonymous coach noted in a scouting report earlier this year. “People think the line is great, but he creates explosive plays by breaking tackles.”

According to Pro Football Focus, over 62% of Sampson’s rushing yards (927) this season came after contact, ranking him seventh nationally. Despite logging only five runs longer than 30 yards, his consistent production has kept defenses on edge. Sampson has scored multiple touchdowns in seven games this year and contributed 19 receptions in the passing game, making him an indispensable part of Tennessee’s offense.

The Volunteers’ offensive success often hinges on their running game. When Sampson gets rolling, opposing defenses struggle to keep pace, opening up opportunities for Tennessee’s other playmakers. His reliability has eased the pressure on redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who is still finding his footing in the SEC.

A Season to Remember

Sampson’s contributions this season have been nothing short of remarkable. His 256 carries rank ninth nationally, and his consistency is evident: he has surpassed 90 rushing yards in every game against Power 4 competition and recorded only one outing exceeding 150 yards. That standout performance came in the regular-season finale against Vanderbilt, where he racked up 178 yards to secure Tennessee’s Playoff bid.

“I don’t know if I even have the words to describe D-Samp and what he means to our team,” Heupel said. “He’s special, man. He’s played the position this year as well as anybody I’ve ever had.”

Sampson’s journey has been one of growth and resilience. As a freshman, he played a supporting role in an offense that reached No. 1 in the CFP poll and won 11 games for the first time since 2001. That season culminated in an Orange Bowl victory over Clemson—the program’s most significant bowl win since its 1998 national title under Phillip Fulmer. As a sophomore, Sampson formed part of a three-headed rushing attack alongside Small and Jaylen Wright, combining for over 2,000 yards.

“That’s good on your body,” Sampson said of the shared workload. “And I knew all I had to do was take care of business, and I’d be the starting running back this year.”

Loyalty in the Modern Era

In today’s era of NIL deals and transfer portals, staying committed to a program is no longer a one-time decision. Players must reaffirm their loyalty repeatedly, resisting the lure of outside offers. Before Tennessee’s dominant 35-0 win over Iowa in last year’s Citrus Bowl, Sampson received inquiries from coaches at other major programs. “They sent me messages on Instagram asking if I was interested in the portal,” he revealed.

Sampson’s response? He left them on read. “I’m more of a grand scheme type of person. The things I think I can do, I have the best chance to accomplish here,” he said. “I’m more of a long-term thinker. The best things, you’ve gotta wait for them.”

His dedication has not gone unnoticed by his teammates. Senior wide receiver Bru McCoy described Sampson as a model of humility and consistency. “He’s one of those guys that he could have no touches and zero touchdowns, and he’d still be the same guy he is with 20. Him staying humble, grounded, and not acting like he’s accomplishing what he’s accomplishing has done a lot for the team,” McCoy said. “He’s an incredible teammate.”

What’s Next?

As Sampson approaches the Ohio State matchup, questions about his future loom large. Will this be his final season in a Tennessee uniform? When asked, Sampson smiled and offered a cryptic response. “I’m with my team right now,” he said with a laugh.

Regardless of what the future holds, Sampson’s impact on Tennessee football is undeniable. His records, leadership, and unrelenting work ethic have set a standard for future Volunteers. With a playoff game against Ohio State on the horizon, Sampson has one more chance to add to his already illustrious legacy. Can he deliver another historic performance? If his season so far is any indication, the answer might just be yes.

ance to add to his already illustrious legacy. Can he deliver another historic performance? If his season so far is any indication, the answer might just be yes.