Tennessee junior running back Dylan Sampson is the Southeastern Conference’s offensive player of the week.
He’s also making a case for SEC offensive player of the year.
“I feel like D-Samp is one of the best running backs in the nation,” senior receiver Dont’e Thornton said of his teammate after the Volunteers powered past Alabama 24-17 Saturday inside Neyland Stadium. “Every time I see him on a running play, it makes me want to play even harder, because I know that if we don’t have things going, D-Samp will get the ball in his hands and make something happen.”
The 5-foot-11, 201-pounder from Baton Rouge leads the SEC through No. 7 Tennessee’s 6-1 start with 144 carries for 838 yards and 17 touchdowns. He is averaging 119.7 rushing yards per game and 5.8 yards per carry.
To say the Vols rely heavily on Sampson would be one of college football’s top understatements, as he has 39 more carries than the SEC’s next-highest running back in that category.
“I feel good,” a smiling Sampson said after helping conquer the Crimson Tide with 26 carries for 139 yards and two scores. “Obviously there are nicks and bruises from every game, but it’s always a blessing to put one foot in front of the other and walk after every game, and I’ll never take that for granted.
“Whatever the coaches need from me to finish the fourth quarter, I’m going to put myself in the position to do that.”
Tennessee has played three incredibly similar games entering this weekend’s open date. The Vols were held scoreless against Arkansas, Florida and Alabama in the first half but trailed only slightly due to stellar defensive play, and then Sampson has taken over, seemingly getting stronger with each ensuing snap.
Sampson amassed 115 of his 140 rushing yards in the 19-14 loss in Fayetteville after halftime. He compiled 93 of his 112 yards in the 23-17 overtime win over the Gators during the third and fourth quarters and the extra period, and 104 of his total against the Crimson Tide occurred after the break.
“It epitomizes him as a competitor,” Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said after his performance against Alabama. “He’s special. He can feel the ability to run, get out in space and get behind his pads. We blocked a little bit cleaner in the second half and gave him an opportunity to get started and create some plays.
“He got banged up a little bit and fumbled early but came back and kept competing. He was a huge part of the game.”
Sampson’s 17 rushing touchdowns through seven games are just one shy of the Tennessee single-season record set by Gene McEver in 1929. Even a rare gaffe reflects his impressive play, as a fumble in the first quarter last Saturday following a 20-yard gain marked his first college turnover on his 284th career carry.
“I couldn’t dwell on that,” Sampson said. “I had to be a leader for my team.”
A prominent member of Tennessee’s leadership council and a two-time member of the SEC academic honor roll, Sampson has amassed 100 yards in every game this season with the exception of his 92-yard output in the 25-15 win at Oklahoma on Sept. 21. He is showing consistency at a time when other candidates for the league’s top offensive honor have been erratic.
Georgia quarterback Carson Beck guides the SEC’s highest-ranked team but has eight interceptions after throwing six all of last season. Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers has missed two games due to injury and was roughed up this past Saturday night by Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs, while Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe and Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart play for two-loss teams that were upset victims against Kentucky and Vanderbilt, respectively.
Tennessee’s regular-season finale in Nashville could have the SEC’s top individual honor at stake, as Commodores quarterback Diego Pavia has thrown for 1,391 yards with 11 touchdowns and one interception while also rushing for 470 yards and 4.0 yards per carry.
A running back has not won the SEC’s offensive player of the year since Auburn’s Kerryon Johnson in 2017.
“D-Samp is a dog, and he continues to be a dog,” Vols redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava said. “Whenever I hand the ball off, I feel like he’s going to score. It’s good to have confidence in a guy like that.”
Odds and ends
The Vols practiced Tuesday and will work out again Wednesday and Thursday before having the weekend off. … Tennessee received two national honors Tuesday, with Heupel being named the Bobby Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week and fifth-year safety Will Brooks the Burlsworth Trophy Walk-On of the Week.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com.