Dylan Sampson, a running back for Tennessee, had one of the most memorable seasons in the history of the program. During his junior season, the Louisiana native set single-season school marks for both rushing yards (1,491) and running touchdowns (1,634 all-purpose yards and 22 touchdowns). With a wealth of skill at the position, he is predicted to be among the best backs in the 2025 NFL Draft class.
Ahead of this month’s draft, Sampson spoke with Justin Melo of The Draft Network about a number of topics. He commended former Tennessee running backs Jabari Small and Jaylen Wright straight away for embracing him into the program and teaching him the ins and outs of being a collegiate running back.
“From the moment I came in, those guys taught me how to be a pro in college,” Sampson stated. “I learnt how to behave both on and off the pitch from them. They assisted me in raising my level of performance. Playing with and behind them taught us a lot about one another.
Sampson said he always knew his time was coming, but he was thankful to be able to play behind two outstanding backs. More opportunities, he said, were the reason for his success in 2024. Sampson wanted to be the lead back, and the Volunteers definitely gave him that.
“I believe that having more opportunities was the main factor. I believe that earlier in my career, I could have posted the same numbers. As I entered my junior year, I was aware that the chance would present itself following my sophomore year.
During his career, Sampson had plenty of opportunities to make plays with the football in Knoxville, Tennessee. Although he recognises that it is a crucial component of being a three-down running back at the professional level, he feels that his time at Tennessee did not allow him to fully display his pass-catching abilities.
“I most certainly do. What I was most excited to showcase at the NFL Combine was my pass-catching ability. I wanted to demonstrate to the scouts that I am capable of running any routes they asked me to. Even though I haven’t been able to hone and showcase my innate route-running skills as much as I could, I still possess them. In the passing game, I think I could be a real asset to any team.
The running back prospects in this draft class have many NFL teams salivating. It blends exceptional depth with top-heavy skill, and some students could find it difficult to prioritise their desires in this class. Sampson made a compelling case for why NFL teams need to select him and what he hopes to achieve there.
“My goal is to contribute immediately and be a playmaker. But initially, I want to become fully immersed in the culture of our locker room. I aspire to be someone who makes a difference. I aspire to be a leader. On and off the pitch, I’m going to be someone the team doesn’t have to worry about. I’m going to step up my performance. I will surprise the league.
