Tennessee Vols newcomer is already a 'fan favorite' among coaches and players
A Tennessee Vols newcomer is already a "fan favorite" among coaches and players in Knoxville. True freshman running back Dylan Sampson is having a solid fall camp and he could end up playing a key role in the Vols' offense this season. Sampson, a former three-star recruit from Geismar, LA, signed with Tennessee last December […]
A Tennessee Vols newcomer is already a "fan favorite" among coaches and players in Knoxville.
True freshman running back Dylan Sampson is having a solid fall camp and he could end up playing a key role in the Vols' offense this season.
Sampson, a former three-star recruit from Geismar, LA, signed with Tennessee last December over offers from Arkansas, Michigan State, South Carolina, and Wake Forest, among many others.
On Tuesday, running backs coach Jerry Mack met with reporters and he talked at length about Sampson and the impact he's already made at Tennessee.
"He's done a great job," said Mack of Sampson. "He's kind of a fan favorite right now in the building with his attitude, and personality, which we knew when we recruited him. Every day he comes out there, it seems like he does something really good with the ball in his hands. Explosive plays. We talked about him being a guy that was going to have those sexy runs, those long, explosive runs, and he's held true to form. He's that guy that every day in practice, he's been coming out there and he finds a way to get through those small creases."
"You know, he's a smaller back but he gets to top-end speed really fast" added Mack. "We've been really impressed with his natural vision and his natural patience as a runner. Obviously, the thing that he has to continue to grow in more than anything else is that physicality part of it and that's going to come as he gets into games more, as he gets into practice and those live reps more."
"I like the way Dylan's operating in our offense as well. He's playing with that sense of urgency that we need in our offense because we play so fast."
It certainly sounds like Sampson has an opportunity to make some plays for the Vols this fall.
Jabari Small will operate as Tennessee's lead running back this season and Jaylen Wright will likely be the primary backup. But there should still be plenty of opportunities for Sampson — along with newcomers Justin Williams-Thomas and Lyn-J Dixon — to make a big impact in 2022.
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