Dylan Sampson
{{Short description|American football player (born 2004)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Dylan Sampson
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| current_team = Cleveland Browns
| number = 22
| position = Running back
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2004|9|14}}
| birth_place = Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 8
| weight_lb = 200
| high_school = Dutchtown {{nowrap|(Geismar, Louisiana)}}
| college = Tennessee (2022–2024)
| draftyear = 2025
| draftround = 4
| draftpick = 126
| pastteams =
- Cleveland Browns ({{NFL Year|2025}}–present)
| status = Active
| highlights =
- Second-team All-American (2024)
- SEC Offensive Player of the Year (2024)
| statlabel1 = Rushing yards
| statvalue1 =
| statlabel2 = Rushing average
| statvalue2 =
| statlabel3 = Rushing touchdowns
| statvalue3 =
| statlabel4 = Receptions
| statvalue4 =
| statlabel5 = Receiving yards
| statvalue5 =
| statlabel6 = Receiving touchdowns
| statvalue6 =
| pfr = SampDy00
}}
Dylan Jacob Sampson (born September 14, 2004) is an American professional football running back for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers and was the 2024 SEC Offensive Player of the Year after rushing for 22 touchdowns with 1,400 yards. Sampson was selected by the Browns in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL draft.
Early life
Sampson was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and attended Dutchtown High School in Geismar, Louisiana.{{Cite web |title=Dylan Sampson - Football |url=https://utsports.com/sports/football/roster/dylan-sampson/20120 |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=University of Tennessee Athletics |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Wright |first=Patrick |date=September 18, 2021 |title=Dylan Sampson, Dutchtown wear down Covington, 37-15 |url=https://www.nola.com/sports/high_schools/dylan-sampson-dutchtown-wear-down-covington-37-15/article_a78593d4-1850-11ec-ba78-cffd0a63e0a2.html |access-date=June 2, 2024 |website=NOLA.com |language=en}} During his high school career, Sampson surpassed Eddie Lacy as the school's all-time leading rusher.{{Cite web |title=Dutchtown running back Dylan Sampson breaks Eddie Lacy's career rushing record |url=https://www.wbrz.com/news/dutchtown-running-back-dylan-sampson-breaks-eddie-lacy-s-career-rushing-record/ |access-date=June 2, 2024 |website=WBRZ |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Weathers |first=William |date=October 6, 2021 |title=Pace-setter: Dutchtown RB Dylan Sampson churns out yards, breaks records with speed, toughness |url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/sports/high_schools/pace-setter-dutchtown-rb-dylan-sampson-churns-out-yards-breaks-records-with-speed-toughness/article_72d154d6-26c2-11ec-aab8-e35ae7043bf5.html |access-date=June 2, 2024 |website=The Advocate |language=en}} As a junior, he ran for 1,327 yards and 15 touchdowns in eight games.{{Cite web |last=Fambrough |first=Robin |date=June 14, 2021 |title=Dutchtown all-state RB Dylan Sampson commits to Tennessee ahead of senior season |url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/sports/high_schools/dutchtown-all-state-rb-dylan-sampson-commits-to-tennessee-ahead-of-senior-season/article_4edd624c-cd42-11eb-b32b-8339bd1ea5a2.html |access-date=June 2, 2024 |website=The Advocate |language=en}} He followed that up as a senior by rushing for 1,374 yards and 22 touchdowns.{{Cite web |date=December 15, 2021 |title=3-star RB Dylan Sampson - Vols 2022 Class Signee |url=https://www.newstalk987.com/2021/12/15/3-star-rb-dylan-sampson-vols-2022-class-signee-12-profile-highlights-analysis/ |access-date=June 2, 2024 |website=WOKI-FM |language=en-US}} A four-star recruit, Sampson committed to play college football at the University of Tennessee over offers from Arkansas, Mississippi State, LSU and Penn State.{{Cite web |last=Riviere |first=Kyle |date=December 16, 2021 |title=Dutchtown's Sampson signs with Tennessee |url=https://www.weeklycitizen.com/story/sports/2021/12/16/dylan-sampson-signs/8928750002/ |access-date=June 2, 2024 |website=Gonzales Weekly Citizen |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Jarreau |first=Caleb |date=2023-10-12 |title='It's in his nature to be a leader': How Dylan Sampson became young leader for Tennessee football |url=https://www.utdailybeacon.com/sports/football/it-s-in-his-nature-to-be-a-leader-how-dylan-sampson-became-young-leader/article_e8c28626-68a4-11ee-9b8d-c7b46cb260ae.html |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=The Daily Beacon |language=en}}
College career
As a freshman, Sampson ran for 397 yards and six touchdowns on 58 carries, in addition to leading the team with 6.8 yards per carry.{{Cite web |last=Paschall |first=David |date=April 8, 2023 |title=Vols' Sampson believes he'll be more 'trusted' as sophomore |url=https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2023/apr/08/sampson-believes-hell-be-more-trusted-as/ |access-date=June 2, 2024 |website=Chattanooga Times Free Press |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Sartori |first=John |date=August 28, 2023 |title=Experience gives Dylan Sampson confidence entering Sophomore season |url=https://www.wvlt.tv/2023/08/28/experience-gives-dylan-sampson-confidence-entering-sophomore-season/ |access-date=June 2, 2024 |website=WVLT |language=en}} In the 2023 season opener against Virginia, he recorded four total touchdowns—three rushing and one receiving—helping lead the Volunteers to a 49−13 victory.{{Cite web |last=Sparks |first=Adam |title=Tennessee football rolls over Virginia behind Dylan Sampson's four TDs |url=https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/football/2023/09/02/tennessee-football-vs-virginia-score-joe-milton-dylan-sampson/70682560007/ |date=September 2, 2023 |access-date=June 2, 2024 |website=Knoxville News Sentinel |language=en-US}} Against UTSA, Sampson rushed for a career-high 139 yards and two touchdowns.{{Cite web |last=Lane |first=Josh |date=September 24, 2023 |title=Dylan Sampson makes most of opportunities in Vols' win over UTSA |url=https://www.thedailytimes.com/sports/dylan-sampson-makes-most-of-opportunities-in-vols-win-over-utsa/article_493c54c4-5b11-11ee-a6fc-33b8060fe032.html |access-date=June 2, 2024 |website=The Daily Times |language=en}} After playing as a backup through the majority of his first two seasons, Sampson got an opportunity to make his first career start against Iowa in the Citrus Bowl.{{Cite web |last=Sparks |first=Adam |title=Dylan Sampson's debut as RB1 for Tennessee football won't be easy vs Iowa in Citrus Bowl |url=https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/football/2023/12/28/dylan-sampson-running-back-tennessee-football-vs-iowa-citrus-bowl-nico-iamaleava/72046909007/ |date=December 28, 2023 |access-date=June 2, 2024 |website=Knoxville News Sentinel |language=en-US}} Against Iowa, he rushed for 133 yards on 20 carries.{{Cite web |last=Paschall |first=David |date=January 8, 2024 |title=Sampson gets his 'needed' performance with Vols in Citrus romp |url=https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2024/jan/08/sampson-gets-his-needed-performance-with-vols-in/ |access-date=June 2, 2024 |website=Chattanooga Times Free Press |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Jarreau |first=Caleb |date=January 3, 2024 |title=Dylan Sampson shines in first career start at running back, looks to future |url=https://www.utdailybeacon.com/sports/football/dylan-sampson-shines-in-first-career-start-at-running-back-looks-to-future/article_0b4e7110-aa58-11ee-956c-3b1d90ab3a63.html |access-date=June 2, 2024 |website=The Daily Beacon |language=en}} Sampson finished his sophomore season rushing for 604 yards and seven touchdowns while also recording 175 receiving yards for a touchdown.{{Cite web |last=Ragan |first=Zach |date=January 29, 2024 |title=One of the Vols' most important players officially announced his return to Tennessee |url=https://atozsports.com/nashville/vols-tennessee-return-nil-running-back-dylan-sampson/ |access-date=June 2, 2024 |website=atozsports.com |language=en}}
In the 2024 season, Sampson broke the school record for single-season rushing touchdowns, a mark previously held by Gene McEver since the 1929 season.{{Cite web |last=Bobo |first=Anaiya |date=2024-11-23 |title=Dylan Sampson sets school record for single-season touchdowns |url=https://www.wbir.com/article/sports/college/vols/vols-football/dylan-sampson-sets-school-record-for-single-season-touchdowns/51-b4986f99-a07e-4dcd-82be-c486acf16bfa |access-date=2024-12-15 |website=wbir.com |language=en-US}} At the end of the year, he was named First-Team All-SEC and earned SEC Offensive Player of the Year.{{Cite web |date=2024-12-11 |title=Tennessee's Dylan Sampson, South Carolina's Kyle Kennard headline AP's All-SEC team |url=https://apnews.com/article/associated-press-allsec-team-ap-afa54cc170e1e68174afd8ff261f0ee9 |access-date=2024-12-15 |website=AP News |language=en}}
On December 27, 2024, Sampson declared for the 2025 NFL draft.{{cite web | last=Baumgardner | first=Nick | title=Dylan Sampson declares for NFL draft: How does Tennessee star stack up in RB class? | website=The Athletic | date=2024-12-27 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6021950/2024/12/27/dylan-sampson-nfl-draft-tennessee-football/ | access-date=2025-01-30}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ College statistics | ||||||||
| rowspan="2" | Season
! Games ! colspan="4" | Rushing ! colspan="4" | Receiving | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | Att | Yards | Avg | TD | Rec | Yards | Avg | TD |
| 2022
| 10 || 58 || 397 || 6.8 || 6 || 3 || 24 || 8.0 || 0 | ||||||||
| 2023
| 12 || 106 || 604 || 5.7 || 7 || 17 || 175 || 10.3 || 1 | ||||||||
| 2024
| 12 || 256 || 1,485 || 5.8 || 22 || 19 || 141 || 7.4 || 0 | ||||||||
| [https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/dylan-sampson-1.html Career] || 34 || 420 || 2,486 || 5.9 || 35 || 39 || 340 || 8.7 || 1 |
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 5
| height in = 8 1/8
| weight = 200
| dash = 4.46
| ten split = 1.58
| twenty split = 2.59
| vertical = 35.0
| broad ft = 10
| broad in = 4
| bench = 13
| arm span = 30 1/2
| hand span = 8 3/4
| note = All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/dylan-sampson/32005341-4d33-8622-de8a-1e3d03b08479 |title=Dylan Sampson Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=March 2, 2025}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1057331&DraftYear=2025 |title=Dylan Sampson College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=March 2, 2025}}
}}
Sampson was selected in the fourth round, with the 126th overall pick of the 2025 NFL draft by the Cleveland Browns.{{cite web |last=Justice |first=Camryn |title=Browns select RB Dylan Sampson with No. 126 pick in 2025 NFL Draft |website=WEWS-TV |url=https://www.news5cleveland.com/sports/browns/browns-select-rb-dylan-sampson-with-no-126-pick-in-2025-nfl-draft |date=April 26, 2025 |access-date=May 9, 2025}} He signed a contract with the team on May 9, 2025.{{cite web |last=Easterling |first=Chris |title=Carson Schwesinger, Dylan Sampson are first 2 Browns draft picks to sign contracts |website=Akron Beacon Journal |url=https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/sports/pro/browns/2025/05/09/carson-schwesinger-contract-dylan-sampson-signs-browns/83518747007/ |date=May 9, 2025 |access-date=May 9, 2025}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.clevelandbrowns.com/team/players-roster/dylan-sampson/ Cleveland Browns bio]
- [https://utsports.com/sports/football/roster/dylan-sampson/20120 Tennessee Volunteers profile]
{{Cleveland Browns roster navbox}}
{{Cleveland Browns 2025 NFL draft picks}}
{{Southeastern Conference Football Player of the Year navbox}}
{{Tennessee Volunteers football rushing leaders navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sampson, Dylan}}
Category:Players of American football from Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Category:American football running backs
Category:Dutchtown High School (Louisiana) alumni