Former Tennessee Star Dylan Sampson Delivers Powerful Life Message to Young Athletes at Boyd Buchanan Summer Football Camp

When Dylan Sampson walked onto the field at Boyd Buchanan School this week, the young athletes at the Buccaneers’ summer football camp erupted with excitement. But what they got from the former Tennessee Volunteers star wasn’t just about football. It was a message of purpose, resilience, and using adversity as fuel—lessons that extended far beyond the lines of the gridiron.

Sampson, once a three-star recruit out of Louisiana who carved his way into the hearts of Vols fans with explosive runs and quiet leadership, returned to Tennessee not to showcase highlights but to give back. And at Boyd Buchanan in Chattanooga, he did just that.

Now a rising figure both in college football and in mentoring youth athletes, Sampson spoke with the kind of clarity and passion that comes from having lived the story he now tells.

“You’re going to face doubters,” Sampson said as he stood before dozens of campers aged 12 to 17, many wearing his old Tennessee jersey number. “They’ll question your size, your speed, your potential. But don’t let anybody define your limits. You control the narrative.”

The energy on the field shifted from playful excitement to attentive silence. For a generation raised on highlights and social media praise, hearing from a player who’s weathered both acclaim and doubt was different—real.

Sampson knows about the doubts. At just 5-foot-11 and a shade under 200 pounds when he joined Tennessee, he wasn’t the prototypical SEC back. But he earned respect fast with his speed, vision, and most of all, heart. Vols fans still talk about his performance against Kentucky in 2023, where he racked up over 100 yards and two touchdowns while grinding through injuries.

But what few outside the Tennessee locker room knew at the time was the internal battle Sampson faced during that season. Not just with expectations, but with confidence, self-worth, and the pressure of playing under a national spotlight. He shared those struggles at the Boyd Buchanan camp, with raw honesty.

“I had days when I didn’t want to show up,” Sampson admitted. “Days when I thought I wasn’t good enough. But it’s in those moments you build character. Either you fold or you fight. I chose to fight.”

His voice didn’t waver. There were no dramatic pauses for effect—just conviction.

The campers leaned in closer, and so did the coaches.

For Boyd Buchanan head coach Gary Rankin, the presence of someone like Sampson was more than just an off-season treat—it was an investment in his players’ future.

“Dylan coming here is a blessing,” Rankin said. “We preach hard work and humility, but when a young man who’s walked the walk stands in front of them and confirms that message, it sticks. He’s a role model, whether he accepts that label or not.”

The camp, designed to sharpen fundamentals like ball control, footwork, and game IQ, transformed into something deeper. Sampson didn’t just run drills—he jumped into them, laughing and competing, urging kids to “finish every play like it’s fourth-and-goal.”

For 14-year-old Darius Hampton, a rising freshman at Boyd Buchanan, that moment changed his entire outlook.

“He told me I was fast, but that I wasn’t using my head,” Darius said. “Then he showed me how to read the defender’s hips. He didn’t just say it—he showed me. That meant everything.”

Sampson’s commitment to mentoring isn’t a publicity stunt. While he’s considering his professional playing future—whether via the NFL or other opportunities—he’s also expressed serious interest in youth coaching and community outreach. The Boyd Buchanan camp was just one of several stops he’s made around Tennessee this summer, speaking to teams and athletes about purpose, discipline, and faith.

Faith, in fact, was a key theme in his message.

“I wouldn’t be here without God,” Sampson told the campers. “Football is a platform, not a destination. You’ve got to use your gifts to lift others up.”

That message resonated with many of the parents watching from the sidelines, some of whom wiped away tears as Sampson hugged their sons after drills.

“He’s the kind of man I hope my son becomes,” one father said, shaking Sampson’s hand. “Respectful, humble, and strong. That’s the kind of influence we need.”

The day ended not with sprints or scrimmages, but with a circle. Sampson gathered the campers, placed a football in the center, and asked everyone to think about what the game meant to them—not just in wins and touchdowns, but in life lessons. Then, he asked for volunteers to speak.

One by one, kids spoke up—about wanting to make their parents proud, about hoping to earn a college scholarship, about not quitting when things get hard. Sampson nodded after each one, affirming their courage.

“I see champions here,” he told them, eyes scanning the group. “Not because of what you’ve done, but because of what you’re willing to do. That’s what makes greatness. That’s what makes a Vol. And that’s what’ll make you a leader, wherever you go.”

The applause was long, but the impact will last even longer.

Sampson signed autographs after the session, posed for pictures, and stayed long after the camp ended, chatting with coaches and families. But the most powerful imprint he left wasn’t on paper. It was in the hearts of the young athletes who now believe in themselves just a little more.

He left them with one final challenge.

“Go be difference-makers,” he said. “In your locker rooms, in your classrooms, and in your homes. That’s how you win long after the game’s over.”

And then, he jogged back to midfield—just a kid from Louisiana who once dreamed of this very moment, now inspiring the next generation to chase their dreams with purpose, courage, and unrelenting heart.