Dylan Sampson’s early NFL success confirms an underused Tennessee offensive strategy should have been in place the whole time under Josh Heupel
The former Vol shined in a way we didn’t see much in Knoxville.
The Tennessee Volunteers have done a nice job getting talent into the NFL under Josh Heupel, and in recent years that also includes the running back position. Both Jaylen Wright and Dylan Sampson have found their way onto NFL 53-man rosters over the last two seasons.
And the latter made a quick impression in his first NFL game on Sunday for the Cleveland Browns. The Browns, fourth-round pick, Sampson has had an opportunity to showcase his skills with second-round pick Quinshon Judkins having been unsigned until the last few days after facing allegations of domestic violence/battery on his then girlfriend in Florida, charges which were eventually dropped.
Sampson was involved in an important part of the Browns’ offense during their 17-16 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, and it wasn’t in a way that Tennessee Vol fans are accustomed to seeing – but perhaps would like to see implemented more going forward.
Sampson was heavily involved in the passing game during the Browns’ loss to the Bengals
Although his rushing totals were modest – 12 carries for 29 yards – Sampson had 8 catches for 64 yards in the game. That’s something that Tennessee fans did not see very much of when Sampson was shattering school records during a historic 2024 season in Knoxville.
Sampson was undoubtedly the engine that drove the Vols’ 2024 offense on the ground, with a school record 1491 rushing yards on 258 carries – both of which led the SEC – and 22 rushing touchdowns that also led the conference and set the Tennessee school record. It’s hard to argue with that kind of production.
However, Sampson also totaled just 20 catches for 143 yards and no scores. For a guy that was so effective with the ball in his hands, it’s interesting that Heupel – who changed his typical RB deployment/rotation to feature Sampson in 2024 – did not find a way to get the ball in his hands more in the short passing game.
And that’s something that Heupel really doesn’t do much with his game plan, but perhaps he should. He’s got two running backs in particular at his disposal that have looked fast and shifty with the ball in their hands in Star Thomas and DeSean Bishop. Getting them out in space with a convoy in front can be a good change of pace to mix in from time to time.
But we’re in year five of Heupel’s tenure, and it’s unlikely he will make too big of a philosophical change at this point in time. Even if one of his best former players shows that perhaps it would be worth considering moving forward.
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