Dylan Sampson 2025 NFL Draft & Dynasty Profile
Dylan Sampson 2025 NFL Draft & Dynasty Profile
- Position: RB
- School: Tennessee
- Class: Junior
- Date of Birth: September 14, 2004
- Height: 5-11
- Weight: 200 lbs
Dylan Sampson Bio
Dylan Sampson was an impressive athlete at Dutchtown High School in Geismar, Louisiana. He blazed as a runner on the track team while dominating on the football field. In fact, Sampson was so impressive as a running back that he passed Eddie Lacy as the school’s all-time leading rusher. He did so by rushing for more than 1,300 yards in each of final two seasons while combining for 37 touchdowns between his junior and senior campaigns. That was enough to rate as a four-star recruit in the class of 2022. He received more than 20 offers from schools like Purdue, Arkansas, Colorado, Cal, Michigan State, and others.
Sampson opted to sign with the Tennessee Volunteers where he spent his freshman and sophomore seasons backing up starter Jaylen Wright. He combined for 1,200 total yards and 14 touchdowns over those two seasons before taking over the starting gig upon Wright’s departure for the NFL in 2024. As the lead dog, Sampson took 258 carries for 1,491 yards and 22 touchdowns, leading the SEC in all three categories. Sampson’s 22 rushing touchdowns were the most in a single season in Tennessee history. He added 20 receptions for 143 yards in the receiving game.
Sampson was named first-team All-SEC and SEC Offensive Player of the Year before declaring for the 2025 NFL Draft.
College Stats
Dylan Sampson college stats courtesy of sports-reference
Positives
- Speed
- Explosion
- Contact Balance
- Vision
- Agility/Lateral Quickness
- Good Hands
- 40% touchdown share (2024)
Negatives
- Pass Protection
- One season of meaningful production
- Slightly Undersized
Highlight Reel
Archetype: Slasher
NFL Comp: Raheem Mostert
Performance Score: Coming Soon
Draft Projection: Fourth Round
NFL Draft & Dynasty Outlook:
Dylan Sampson is an overall athletic running back who wins with speed and explosion. He finds the open lanes with his great vision and patience and is able to bounce off tacklers with exceptional contact balance. He gains yards after contact with regularity while smoothly shifting gears from lateral runner to a north-south bullet with a knack for breaking off long runs. Sampson is extremely explosive once he finds a lane with the speed to house it at any time. He runs with surprisingly effective power for a back of his size. He doesn’t go down easily and he’s been known to move a pile on occasion.
In the passing game, Dylan Sampson displays good hands and the explosiveness to make plays after the catch. He has the upside to develop into a greater role as a pass catcher than he held at the college level.
In the NFL, Sampson projects as a versatile, well-rounded running back who can effectively contribute in all phases of the offense. He’s explosive between the tackles with the speed and lateral quickness to bounce it outside. He has the power to win in short yardage and goal line situations, even at his size. NFL teams will appreciate his versatility and playmaking upside. He will likely be deployed in a split backfield alongside a bigger, bruising style runner. But make no mistake, Sampson is capable of carrying the load when called upon as he showed in his final season at Tennessee.
On draft weekend, Sampson will likely be an early day 3 pick with a chance to slide into the back of the third round if a team is excited about his upside. In dynasty, Sampson will become a consideration as early as the end of round one in rookie drafts, depending on draft capital and landing spot.
NEXT: Elic Ayomanor 2025 NFL Draft & Dynasty Profile
RANKINGS | DYNASTY
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