What Dylan Sampson said about being Tennessee's starting running back in the Citrus Bowl

With both Jaylen Wright and Jabari Small opting out of the Citrus Bowl and declaring for the NFL Draft, sophomore Dylan Sampson will be Tennessee’s starting running back when the Vols face Iowa in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl on Monday at Camping World Stadium in Orlando.

Here’s what Sampson said after practice on Thursday about becoming the starter:

His mindset going into the Citrus Bowl as Tennessee’s starting running back

“I’m just blessed. It’s it’s time to go to work. This is something I’ve been preparing for my whole time that I’ve been here. So I’m ready to go to work. Mindset has been the same. Just be dominant. Go out there and show them who I am, you know?”

How different he expects the workload to be with Tennessee using a two-back rotation instead of three

“I think it could look a little bit different. Probably similar to how it probably was two years ago, when I was a freshman. But I’m ready for that. This is what I want. It’s time to (go). It’s what I’ve been wanting, to have the opportunity to show and showcase and help my teammates. So it’s gonna be a good and new mental space that I’m adjusting to, getting back in that role, but it’s gonna be fun.”

How hard it is to be patient in a three-back rotation and balancing that with wanting to do more

“It wasn’t hard because once I made peace with it, we all got the same goal. We’re pushing to help each other. I mean, I can’t look at it as hard. It only helped me get better. And it all helped be our best. So I accepted that and I’m in the position I am right now.”

How excited to see Tennessee freshmen running backs Cam Seldon and Khalifa Keith get some reps

“Cam Sheldon as well as Khalifa, they’re both gonna take a step up. And they they’ll be ready. They are athletic, and they’re gonna put it on film. They’re gonna show it on TV. But, man, I’m excited for them. They have questions. We help each other out. But, man, y’all are gonna see flashes from them and some some real athletic and smart plays from them.”

How different it has been for him as the leader in Tennessee’s running back room leading up to the Citrus Bowl 

“It hasn’t been that different. Obviously, Jabari and Jay Wright, that’s the two main main pieces, but it’s just continuing to do what I’ve been (doing) and emphasizing more and helping (the young backs) become leaders. Because at the end of the day, that’s the goal, helping other people elevate to that status. But it’s just continuing to do what I’ve been doing, trying to help this team.”

The difficulty of settling into games while not knowing when he would get a series in Tennessee’s three-back rotation, how that will be different as the starter

“I won’t do anything different because I take the attention … I never know how many snaps I’m going to get. It varied this year where I’ve got 20 carries. So the mindset is always be ready for that workload. You never know what’s gonna happen. So it’s like, you don’t ever wanna be on the back burner, so I’m always putting myself in that in that mindset to be ready.”

What it was like to watch Jaylen Wright and Jabari Small develop the last two seasons

“They became my brothers, man. I still talk to them. Me and Jay Wright, me and Jabari, we chop it up. But, we grew like a family. So, man, I’m gonna be happy to see where their next step leads to, both of them. But, man, they’re gonna forever be my brothers. And just growth in this room, it’s gonna look a little different, I’m going to miss them, but that’s just life. So man, I wish the best for them, man, and I love them.”

The confidence he has in Nico Iamaleava ahead of making his first career start against in the Citrus Bowl  

“We we all have great confidence in Nico. Joe’s still been around helping with the team. He’s a true leader, but, I think Nico is ready. Everybody has full faith and confidence in him, and I think it’s just time to let him go. So I’ll be alongside (him). I’m helping them out, but it’ll be fun.”

Tennessee coaches stressing the importance of pass protection to help Nico Iamaleava

“Yeah. Everybody knows that, especially with a freshman quarterback. That’s gonna be big on us and the O-line. Just just giving him that. If he’s able to sit back there, he can make the reads he needs to make without having to worry about the pressure in his face. But pass pro was always emphasized in our room. We we pride ourselves on being the best room in pass pro. You don’t wanna get your quarterback hit in the game. So whether it’s Nico, Joe, whoever is back there, we gotta keep them up.”

What he knows about the Iowa defense

“I wasn’t too familiar just because I was playing in SEC, but you watch their film, you watch their TV copies of the games, man, they play strong. They play physical. They want it. So it’s gonna be a good challenge for us going against this defense. It’s gonna be fun to play against them in this ball game.”

What it has been like preparing for this game alongside Nico Iamaleava

“It’s been good. It’s been fun connecting. We built chemistry along the year, throughout practice. But now we’ll get a chance to show it. It’s just fun kinda telling him jokes why we’re playing this and that, helping ease him into things and stuff like that. But I think we got a good connection. I think everybody is gonna see that.”

What stands out about Tennessee freshman Cam Seldon

“Man, he just wants to learn. He’s really intentional. Any questions he has, he’s gonna ask it. He’s a freak athlete. I think everybody’s gonna see that. Good size, about 6-2. So the athletic the athletic stuff is gonna speak by itself. But the the mental mindset he comes to the game with, get better each and every day. You can’t teach that. That’s hard to teach.”

Why Josh Heupel said he’s a good leader for this offense

“I think it’s just consistency, trying to be who I am every single day. Because there are days where you really don’t wanna come in and be the energy guy. And everybody doesn’t have to be the energy guy, but that is kinda who I am. I talk to everybody. I try to connect with people. I get people going. And if that’s who I am, that’s who I gotta be every single day. That’s the role I choose to step in, so I can’t pick and choose my days. But that’s the position I’m in and I’m blessed to be in (it).”