National NFL draft analyst points out Tennessee Vols junior as a potential NFL draft prospect to watch against NC State

On Friday, The Athletic's Dane Brugler pointed out a couple of potential NFL draft prospects to watch during this weekend's slate of college football games.

One of the players that Brugler pointed out as a player to watch this weekend is Tennessee Vols junior running back Dylan Sampson.

Sampson, a former four-star recruit from Baton Rouge, is serving as the Vols' lead running back in 2024 after playing behind Jabari Small and Jaylen Wright during his first two seasons at Tennessee.

From The Athletic : In his two college starts (last year’s bowl game and the 2024 opener), Sampson has rushed for 257 yards on 32 carries (8.0 yards per attempt) and three touchdowns. His predecessor in the Vols’ backfield, Jaylen Wright, was known for his speed — but Sampson is actually faster, according to his high school track times (10.62-second 100 meters). Although sophomore quarterback Nico Iamaleava (who isn’t yet draft-eligible) is the star of the Tennessee offense, Sampson could be a draft riser.

Sampson, somewhat surprisingly, didn't receive a lot of draft attention heading into the 2024 season. The talented running back has elite speed, he's improved in pass protection, and he's been a consistent home run hitter in the SEC despite not playing in a featured role.

Additionally, because of the way Tennessee uses their running backs (the Vols prefer to rotate at least two or three running backs during a game), Sampson doesn't have a ton of mileage. It's easy to see how he's a player that will be of interest to NFL teams.

I'm sure Tennessee would love to have Sampson back in 2025, but if he goes pro after the 2024 season, it likely means that the Vols' offense had a huge season.

Related: Urban Meyer makes absolutely huge statement about Nico Iamaleava and the Tennessee Vols