Tennessee Vols RB Dylan Sampson lands with AFC franchise in 2025 NFL mock draft from The Athletic
Tennessee Vols running back Dylan Sampson declared for the 2025 NFL Draft (forgoing his final season of eligibility) after a 2024 season that was one of the best seasons ever for a UT football player. Sampson set new single season records at Tennessee with 1,491 rushing yards and 22 rushing touchdowns in 2024. He also […]
Tennessee Vols running back Dylan Sampson declared for the 2025 NFL Draft (forgoing his final season of eligibility) after a 2024 season that was one of the best seasons ever for a UT football player.
Sampson set new single season records at Tennessee with 1,491 rushing yards and 22 rushing touchdowns in 2024. He also caught 20 passes for 143 yards.
The Baton Rouge native is a bit undersized at 201 lbs, but he proved to be an extremely tough player during his three seasons at Tennessee.
So where will Sampson land in the 2025 NFL Draft?
The latest mock draft from The Athletic has the Pittsburgh Steelers selecting Sampson in the third round (No. 83 overall).
From The Athletic: A track star in high school who was clocked at 22-23 mph on the Catapult system at Tennessee, Sampson should be one of the fastest backs at the NFL Scouting Combine. He’s also a schematic fit for the Steelers, as he excels in a zone-blocking offense, where he can make one cut and use his electric speed to his advantage. While he has the late speed to run away from defenders and is a good receiving threat out of the backfield, he’s also plenty physical and durable. In the rough-and-tumble SEC, Sampson led all ball carriers with 1,491 rushing yards and 22 rushing touchdowns in 2024, both of which were Tennessee single-season records.
Just as importantly, he showed a nice mix of dependability (SEC-high 258 attempts) and efficiency (5.8 yards per carry). He toted the ball 20-plus times in eight games. He never fumbled in three seasons and doesn’t turn 21 until September. The Steelers often like to draft younger players who have more room for growth in the middle rounds. Sampson also seems like a high-character individual, as his high school football coach joked he had a higher GPA (4.4) than 40-yard dash time (reportedly 4.32 in high school).
Sampson is poised to make an impact wherever he lands in the NFL. The former Vol is a tremendous leader who is completely focused on winning games. His on-field skills combined with his elite competitiveness and what he brings to the locker room makes Sampson a safe bet in the draft for any NFL franchise.
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