Dylan Sampson 2025 NFL Draft: Tennessee RB Scouting Report
In this talented 2025 NFL Draft class, one explosive running back you need to know is Dylan Sampson. He’s a talented RB from Tennessee with excellent vision and patience. Today, we’ll break down his NFL outlook with this in-depth scouting report. Additionally, we will be breaking down his strengths, areas for improvement, and his potential draft grade.
Dylan Sampson 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report
Sampson emerged as one of the SEC’s most electrifying playmakers in 2024, seizing the starting role at Tennessee after two seasons as a rotational back. A former three-star recruit who shattered high school rushing records in Louisiana, Sampson’s junior campaign showcased his dynamic skill set. Additionally, he received SEC Offensive Player of the Year honors and a school-record 22 rushing touchdowns. At just 20 years old, he opted to declare for the 2025 NFL Draft. Moving forward, he brings a blend of speed, vision, and toughness that projects him as a high-upside prospect with some areas still to refine.
Furthermore, Sampson profiles as a complementary back with RB1 upside in the right system. His speed and agility make him a scheme-versatile runner, best suited for gap or inside zone concepts that maximize his burst and vision. Teams like the Kansas City Chiefs, Chicago Bears, or Las Vegas Raiders—needing a dynamic change-of-pace option—could target him.
Overall, to become a three-down starter, he must refine his pass-catching and protection skills, areas where his limited college usage leaves room for growth. He’s a smaller-framed JK Dobbins with similar explosiveness and contact balance. However, Sampson’s receiving profile lags behind Dobbins’ at a comparable stage.
HT: 5081
WT: 200
HAND: 900
ARM: 3038
40: 4.48
Strengths:
- Explosive Acceleration: Sampson’s track background (10.48 100-meter dash) translates to the field with elite burst. Once he identifies a crease, he hits top speed quickly, often turning short gains into chunk plays.
- Vision and Patience: Displays advanced instincts in Tennessee’s spread scheme, pressing the line to set up blocks before exploding through gaps. His ability to read defenses and anticipate cutback lanes stands out.
- Lateral Agility: A twitchy mover with a devastating spin move and sharp jump cuts, Sampson consistently makes defenders miss in tight spaces. His low center of gravity aids in maintaining balance through contact.
- Competitive Toughness: Despite a smaller frame, he runs with a physical edge, churning out extra yards after contact and showing a relentless motor. He forced 70 missed tackles in 2024, per available data.
- Red Zone Instincts: With a natural nose for the end zone, Sampson’s 22 rushing touchdowns in 2024 highlight his ability to finish drives. Excels at finding daylight in condensed spaces near the goal line.
Areas for Improvement:
- Size and Durability Concerns: At his size, Sampson lacks the ideal bulk for a workhorse back. His 258 carries in 2024 were an outlier compared to his lighter workloads in prior years, raising questions about long-term durability in a featured role.
- Ball Security: Lost four fumbles in 2024 (one every 64.5 carries), often while fighting for extra yardage. He needs to improve his carrying technique to secure the ball in traffic.
- Pass-Catching Development: Limited usage as a receiver (40 career catches, mostly on screens and swings) suggests an underdeveloped route tree. His hands are adequate but untested in complex passing situations.
- Pass Protection Consistency: He’s willing and capable in protection (110+ snaps in 2024), but his technique is raw. He tends to catch rushers rather than strike proactively, and he can be late to diagnose multiple threats, allowing seven pressures last season.
Conclusion:
Overall, Sampson thrives in Tennessee’s gap-heavy spread offense, where he excels at following pullers and inserts to daylight. His tape against Alabama (139 yards, 2 TDs) and Georgia (long TD run) showcases his ability to exploit overpursuing defenses with sudden cuts and breakaway speed, clocked at 22-23 MPH in games.
Furthermore, Sampson manipulates second-level defenders with subtle tempo changes. Keep in mind, this is a rare trait for a back his age. However, his fumbles often occur in high-traffic areas, and his pass protection lapses are evident when facing stunts or delayed blitzes. Unfortunately, his receiving opportunities are sparse. However, he flashes soft hands on underneath targets.
Sampson’s 2024 breakout season revealed a playmaker with rare acceleration and instincts tempered by size limitations and correctable flaws. A mid-Day 2-Early Day 3 pick, he offers immediate juice to an NFL backfield and could develop into a lead back with coaching and experience. Look for Sampson to be one of the best running backs in this loaded 2025 NFL Draft rookie class.
Round Grade: 4th Round
Stats: Per Sports Reference
| Season | Team | G | Att | Yds | Y/A | TD | Rec | Yds | TD |
| 2022* | Tennessee | 10 | 58 | 397 | 6.8 | 6 | 3 | 24 | 0 |
| 2023* | Tennessee | 12 | 106 | 604 | 5.7 | 7 | 17 | 175 | 1 |
| 2024 | Tennessee | 13 | *258* | *1491* | 5.8 | *22* | 20 | 143 | 0 |
| Career | 35 | 422 | 2492 | 5.9 | 35 | 40 | 342 | 1 |
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