Tennessee tailback Dylan Sampson's goal is simple -- keep earning a role

For Tennessee freshman running back Dylan Sampson, who’s recovering from an ankle sprain, Saturday at LSU will be a homecoming. 

The 5-11, 190-pound Sampson grew up in Baton Rouge, a stone’s throw from Tiger Stadium. Getting the opportunity to play in his hometown was an unexpected surprise for the tailback when he committed to the Vols.

“It’s crazy to me when I committed and then they released the schedule for the next year and I saw LSU on the list and it’s in Baton Rouge,” Sampson said Tuesday night on Tennessee Prime. “It’s been a minute since Tennessee played LSU and who knows when they will play them again. I’m just ready. My family is going to be there and a lot of people I know will be there. Going back home to my city and playing in that environment, I’m ready.”

Regardless of the opponent, Sampson is eager to play after missing the Florida game with that ankle injury. It’s why last week’s open date was so important for him. 

“I had to take real advantage of it because I was out for the Florida game,” offered Sampson. “The open date was really a blessing. I was rehabbing constantly throughout the day. The main thing for me was just trying to get back physically right and be able to go out and function in this offense. It gives us two weeks to prepare for LSU. I just had to take advantage of it in every way.”

To this point, Sampson has taken advantage of his opportunities, albeit, limited ones. In two games played, Sampson has three touchdowns on 18 carries. He has recorded 89 yards rushing and has one reception for 19 yards.

For the freshman who is four games into his career, the numbers don’t matter. The goal is simple. Help in any way possible.

 “I’m not really a stat guy. My main goal this entire year is to be a contributor to this offense. I want to get to the point that coaches trust me so much that I’m rotating in and out. I’m making plays. Earning a role in this offense has been my goal from day one.”

Earning that trust from the coaches is always a work in progress, but Sampson has impressed from day one and Tennessee running backs coach Jerry Mack said he has full confidence in his young back. 

“What he does on the practice field. How he carries himself in the building. I think all of those things play a big part when you decide to give a guy the football,” Mack said. “He has our entire livelihood in his hands when he carries the football and we trust him 100% to step on the field and execute the assignment – whether that’s running or blocking to the best of his ability.”

Sampson’s running has been on display from the moment he hit the practice field, but for the freshman, the moment he knew he could play and have a role early was in his first college scrimmage.

“You go through practices or you make a couple of plays but you never really know until you get in between those lines when the coaches aren’t on the field with you,” Sampson said. “In this offense, you gotta play tempo and make sure you have all the right assignments. The first scrimmage we had I handled the tempo. I made some plays and I didn’t really mess up much. That’s when I was like ‘I can do something here’. From that point on, I just tried to stay consistent throughout fall camp.”

That consistency is what Sampson hopes will get him on the field more as the season progresses. A season that Sampson realized was a dream come true when he ran though the T on Thursday night in the season opener against Ball State. 

“It was like this isn’t high school any more. I looked around and it was orange everywhere. It got me smiling. I’m looking left and I’m looking right jogging through. It’s just different. At that moment it’s like this is what I have worked for all my life. It was crazy.”

Sampson is well versed in what the Vols are getting into Saturday afternoon in his hometown and he knows it’s on him to be to be ready if his number is called.

“The fans are going to be talking. It’s going to be loud for sure,” he said. “As for the team, you are going to have a lot of guys who try to get in your head. I know how Louisiana boys play. They are going to talk. We just have to stay focused and stay locked in and just keep playing.”