Josh Heupel Praises Dylan Sampson’s Record-Breaking Season
Tennessee Vols’ head coach Josh Heupel has heaped praise on junior running back Dylan Sampson, who recently broke the school’s single-season rushing yards record. Sampson achieved this impressive feat in the Vols’ 36-23 win over Vanderbilt at FirstBank Stadium.
Sampson’s outstanding performance saw him finish the game with a season-high 178 yards rushing on 25 carries. This achievement surpassed the previous record of 1,464 yards set by Travis Stephens in 2001. Sampson’s remarkable season has seen him accumulate 1,485 yards, 256 carries, and 22 touchdowns.
Heupel struggled to find the right words to describe Sampson’s incredible season, stating, “I don’t even know if I have the right words to describe D-Samp… and what he means to our team, just as a player and as a leader.” He further emphasized, “He’s dynamic. Plays great without the ball in his hands. And talk about, when the ball is in his hands, making things happen. Dynamic plays, muddy threes and fours.”
Earlier in the season, Sampson broke the Tennessee record for single-season rushing touchdowns, setting a new mark of 22. He initially tied the modern record with his 17th rushing touchdown against Alabama in October and later set the new record against Kentucky.
Sampson’s impressive form has seen him become Tennessee’s 20th running back to surpass 1,000 yards for the season. He achieved this milestone by running for 149 yards on a season-high 30 carries against Mississippi State on November 9.
Heupel’s admiration for Sampson is evident, as he concluded, “He’s special, man. He’s played the position this year as well as anybody I’ve ever had.” Sampson’s record-breaking season is a testament to his hard work, dedication, and exceptional talent. As the Vols look to the future, Sampson’s impressive performances will undoubtedly be a key factor in their success.
