
The 2025 NFL Draft will be a great event for teams to start building for their future. Here is the Dylan Sampson NFL Draft Profile.
Position: Running Back
School: Tennessee
Size: 5-foot-11, 201 pounds
Class: Junior
2024 stats: 258 carries, 1,491 rushing yards, 22 rushing touchdowns, 5.8 yards per rush, 20 receptions, 143 receiving yards
Sampson was a three-star recruit in the class of 2022 who signed with Tennessee out of Louisiana. He played a decent amount as a freshman, totaling 397 rushing yards, 24 receiving yards and six total touchdowns. His role increased in 2023, but he still split work out of the backfield. He registered 604 rushing yards, 175 receiving yards and eight total touchdowns. Sampson helped the Volunteers win nine games that season. He really broke out in 2024 with 1,491 rushing yards, 143 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns. He led Tennessee to 10 wins during the 2024 season.
Following the season, Sampson declared for the 2025 NFL Draft. He is currently projected to be a mid-round pick.
Sampson is a good athlete in a variety of ways. He has good acceleration at the start of a play, getting up to top speed quickly. When he needs to make someone miss, he is able to do so with good lateral agility. Once he is in the open-field, Sampson can take the ball all the way to the end zone, as he has pretty good speed for a running back.
His vision allows him to be a successful runner. He allows holes to open up in front of him with solid patience, then hits the hole once things open up. Sampson sees cut-back lanes and can go against the grain when necessary. When he gets to the second level of a defense, that vision is still there as he finds open space with good creativity.
He has solid receiving skills out of the backfield. Sampson’s movement abilities allow him to run good routes. He has the ability to separate and once he does he has solid hands. Once the ball is in his hands, he can accelerate quickly to pick up yards. He has great run after the catch ability.
Sampson can play on third downs because of his receiving ability, but can be a liability in pass protection. He isn’t the biggest back and struggles to block incoming pass rushers. Sampson tries to take out their legs, but could benefit from trying to square them up and sustain his blocks.
He runs hard, but has just average power and contact balance. His best bet to pick up maximum yardage is his athleticism. Sampson can’t always break tackles. He is a little light to be an every-down back and teams may elect to use different players in short-yardage situations.
His size is a little small to be an NFL-featured running back. He has a frame that he can add to in order to be more of a workhorse back. Added strength should help his contact balance and power, but also could help him in pass protection. He has one year of being the main running back at Tennessee and added strength can help him be more durable.
Projected Draft Range: Third Round Pick-Fifth Round Pick
Draft Grade: Fourth Round Pick
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