Why Dylan Sampson is one of Mel Kiper Jr.'s favorite running backs in the NFL Draft
Tennessee’s Dylan Sampson is one of Mel Kiper Jr.’s favorite running backs on the board in this week’s NFL Draft. The longtime ESPN NFL Draft analyst explained his reasoning, too.
“I just love watching Sampson take off when he gets into space,” Kiper wrote. “He’s a home run waiting to happen every time he touches the ball. He had 12 runs for 20 or more yards last season — tied for 15th in the country — en route to 1,491 rushing yards and 22 rushing TDs.”
Kiper described this draft as “deep” at the running back position, making it “hard to pick just one guy to highlight.”
Still, Sampson was that guy, despite being ranked by Kiper as the sixth best running back in the draft on Kiper’s big board.
NFL Draft: Round 1, Thursday, 8 pm. ET
“I see burst and conviction on the tape — he sees the hole, commits and explodes through the gap,” Kiper wrote of Sampson. “At 5-foot-8 and 200 pounds, Sampson runs with fierceness and contact balance, with 820 of his yards coming after first contact. Those traits are also useful at the goal line, where he can power in for six points. Inside 3 yards, he scored on eight of his 11 carries last season.
“To top it all off,” Kiper continued, “Sampson catches the ball well out of the backfield (37 receptions over the past two seasons) and is willing to step up as a blocker. That gives him some third-down upside in addition to his rushing ability.”
The NFL Draft begins Thursday with the first round at 8 p.m. Eastern Time on ESPN and NFL Network. Rounds 2 and 3 will be held Friday night, beginning at 6 p.m. ET, and Rounds 4-7 will take place Saturday afternoon, starting at Noon ET.
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Dylan Sampson last season: 1,491 yards, 22 touchdowns
Kiper’s projection for Sampson is the third or fourth round, going to “a team that needs a boost in the run game.”
Sampson provided a record-setting boost in his final season at Tennessee, rushing for 1,491 yards and 22 touchdowns, both program records, in 13 games for the Vols in 2024.
He averaged 114.7 yards per game and 5.8 yards per carry. Over three seasons at Tennessee he rushed for 2,492 yards and 35 touchdowns and caught 40 passes for 342 yards and another score.
Those kind of numbers are why Sampson is one of Kiper’s favorite backs.
“You know what you’re going to get with Sampson,” Kiper wrote. “He’s consistent. Consider that he had at least 100 rushing yards, averaged at least 5.0 yards per carry and scored at least one TD in eight of his 13 games last season.”
