Vols sophomore RB sends strong message about Tennessee’s running game in 2025
One of the reasons why the national media is down on the Tennessee Vols in 2025 is because the program no longer has Dylan Sampson at running back. Sampson, who declared for the 2025 NFL Draft after his record-breaking junior season at Tennessee, was the SEC offensive player of the year in 2024. The Louisiana […]
One of the reasons why the national media is down on the Tennessee Vols in 2025 is because the program no longer has Dylan Sampson at running back.
Sampson, who declared for the 2025 NFL Draft after his record-breaking junior season at Tennessee, was the SEC offensive player of the year in 2024.
The Louisiana native set a Tennessee record with 1,491 rushing yards and 22 rushing touchdowns last season.
Replacing Sampson obviously won’t be easy. But the Vols have always been able to run the ball at a high level under head coach Josh Heupel. And sophomore running back Peyton Lewis is confident that will again be the case in 2025.
“We got dogs,” said Lewis, who rushed for 339 yards and three touchdowns for the Vols as a true freshman last season. “We got dogs every year. So we’re gonna go out there and play. With all the running backs, I mean, I feel like ain’t nobody you can miss with no matter who you play. So it’s like this person goes in, whoever it is, (DeSean) Bishop, Star (Thomas), Bake (Justin Baker), Daune (Morris), me, Hunter (Barnes) — it doesn’t matter. Like, you get this, you’re gonna get the same thing next time. So, I mean, we’re just coming out raw every time.”
DeSean Bishop is expected to be the first running back on the field for the Vols when the season kicks off against Syracuse on August 30. Lewis, however, could end up being the most productive running back on the roster.
“You see tackles bounce off of him (Lewis) and that’s the biggest deal,” said Tennessee running backs coach De’Rail Sims on Tuesday. “He’s built his body up in a way to where he has the armor, to where he’s able to use his body as a weapon now — which is really good.
“And I think that’s translated into confidence, as well. He understands that he can drop his pads in the run game, he can drop his pads in pass protection, and he’s able to stop people in their tracks. So I think that piece of it has been awesome for him from a confidence standpoint.”
Just because Sampson is no longer in Knoxville doesn’t mean the Vols’ running game won’t remain elite. Guys like Sampson, Jabari Small, and Jaylen Wright set a high standard in Tennessee’s running back room, and Lewis and his teammates are determined to carry that standard forward.
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