KNOXVILLE, Tenn. –Dylan Sampson produced the most prolific rushing season in Tennessee history in leading the Volunteers to their first College Football Playoff berth. On Friday, the junior running back and 2024 SEC Offensive Player of the Year officially began the next chapter of his football career by declaring for the 2025 NFL Draft.
Sampson announced his decision on social media and thanked his coaching staff, teammates and Vol Nation. The Baton Rouge, Louisiana, native was part of Josh Heupel‘s first signing class in December of 2021 and is seeking to become the third straight Vol starting running back to make an NFL roster in the Heupel era.
Sampson rewrote the record books in 2024, shattering school single-season records in rushing yards (1,491), rushing touchdowns (22), total touchdowns scored (22), points scored (132) and consecutive games with a rushing touchdown (11). His durability, toughness and leadership were on display the entire season as he collected 929 yards after contact and accounted for 40 percent (22 of 55) of the Vols’ offensive touchdowns.
Sampson was rewarded for his MVP efforts, becoming the second Tennessee player in three years to be named SEC Offensive Player of the Year. He also was a second-team All-America recipient by nearly every outlet and organization. Quarterback Hendon Hooker won the honor in 2022. Sampson was the sixth running back in SEC history to win the award.
Sampson led the SEC in nine different categories, including rushing attempts (258), rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, 100-yard rushing games (10), rushing yards per game (114.7), points scored, points per game (10.2), all-purpose yards (1,638) and all-purpose yards per game (126.0). In conference-only games, he also led nearly every rushing category, including yards (1,051) and touchdowns by a running back (12).
The junior finished his 2024 season tied for fifth place in SEC single-season history rushing touchdowns with LSU’s Leonard Fournette. His 22 rushing scores were the most by an SEC player since Alabama’s Najee Harris tallied an FBS-best 26 touchdowns in 2020.
Off the field, Sampson was a leader in the community and a scholar-athlete. He was a two-time SEC Academic Honor Roll recipient, producing a 3.43 GPA while majoring in information sciences. He was a member of the 2023-24 VOLeaders Academy that visited South Africa in the summer of 2024. The trip was featured on a segment of ESPN College Gameday earlier this fall.
Sampson now begins his pro preparations. The 2025 NFL Combine is set for Feb. 27-March 2, and the 2025 NFL Draft is April 24-26 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay.
Where Sampson Finished In UT Single-Season Record Books
Rushing Attempts – 258 (5th)
Rushing Yards – 1,491 (1st)
Rushing Touchdowns – 22 (1st)
Rushing Yards Per Game – 114.7 (3rd)
100-Yard Rushing Games – 10 (2nd)
Total Touchdowns Scored – 22 (1st)
Points Scored – 132 (1st)
All-Purpose Yards – 1,638 (7th)
Consecutive Games With a Rushing TD – 11 (1st)
Where Sampson Finished In UT Career Record Books
Rushing Yards – 2,492 (9th)
Rushing Touchdowns – 35 (t2nd)
100-Yard Rushing Games – 13 (t3rd)
Consecutive Games With a Rushing TD – 11 (1st)
2024 Sampson Honors
SEC Offensive Player of the Year (AP, Coaches)
SEC Player of the Year (USA Today)
All-America Second Team (The Athletic, FWAA, Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, USA Today, Walter Camp)
All-America Third Team (AP)
Maxwell Award Semifinalist
Doak Walker Award Semifinalist
All-SEC First Team (AP, Coaches)
SEC Offensive Player of the Week (vs. Alabama, 10/21)
