One Tennessee Vols player isn't receiving enough credit for his play against Vandy
One Tennessee Vols player isn't receiving nearly enough credit for his performance in UT's 56-0 win over the Vanderbilt Commodores. Vols true freshman running back Dylan Sampson had a great game against Vanderbilt as he rushed for 131 yards on 10 carries, including an impressive 80-yard touchdown run. That touchdown run was impressive (as was […]
One Tennessee Vols player isn't receiving nearly enough credit for his performance in UT's 56-0 win over the Vanderbilt Commodores.
Vols true freshman running back Dylan Sampson had a great game against Vanderbilt as he rushed for 131 yards on 10 carries, including an impressive 80-yard touchdown run.
That touchdown run was impressive (as was the one from Vols running back Jaylen Wright). But that's not what impressed me the most about Sampson on Saturday night (we already knew he had great burst).
What really impressed me was his improved pass protection.
Earlier this season, Sampson missed a key block against LSU that resulted in quarterback Hendon Hooker taking a hard hit.
Vols running backs coach Jerry Mack told reporters that after that play that Sampson was committed to not making the same mistake twice.
And he hasn't.
Against the Commodores, Sampson had two great blitz pickups. One of them came on a critical fourth down early in the game when Tennessee was up just 7-0.
If Sampson doesn't pick up the blitz there, Joe Milton likely gets hit, or he doesn't have enough time to find Ramel Keyton for the first down and the Vols turn the ball over on downs.
Instead, Sampson did his job and gave Milton enough time to find Keyton.
That's the kind of development you love to see from a true freshman over the course of a season. It says a lot about Sampson and his work ethic. It also says a lot about Tennessee's coaching staff.
Over the last decade, player development has been a major concern on Rocky Top. Those days, however, are gone. Tennessee is seeing players develop under Josh Heupel and his staff in a way that's reminiscent of the glory days in Knoxville.
Just another reason why it finally feels like the Vols are on a championship path.
Featured image via George Walker IV / Tennessean.com / USA TODAY NETWORK
