Tennessee Volunteers Running Back Dylan Sampson Declines NFL Draft to Return for Senior Season as He Explains His Decision
In a move that surprised NFL scouts, thrilled Tennessee Volunteers fans, and energized the college football landscape, star running back Dylan Sampson has announced that he will forgo the 2025 NFL Draft and return to Knoxville for his senior season. At a press conference held at the Anderson Training Center, with a packed room of reporters and teammates watching, Sampson spoke with clarity and passion about the reasons behind his decision—a choice that speaks to loyalty, unfinished business, and a vision greater than personal ambition.
“I love this place,” Sampson said, the emotion in his voice unmistakable. “I love my teammates. I love running through that ‘T’ in Neyland Stadium. I’m not ready to leave that behind. There’s more we can accomplish together, and I want to be a part of it.”
His decision instantly reshaped the 2025 college football landscape and reaffirmed a truth that is often forgotten in the age of NIL deals and transfer portal chaos: sometimes, loyalty, growth, and purpose still matter most.
Sampson has been a critical piece of Tennessee’s offensive engine since stepping on campus. Known for his electrifying speed, vision, and breakaway ability, he burst onto the SEC scene as a freshman and has only grown more dominant with each passing season.
In 2024, Sampson put together a career-defining year:
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1,215 rushing yards
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15 rushing touchdowns
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420 receiving yards
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4 receiving touchdowns
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Numerous clutch performances, including standout games against Alabama and Georgia
He was a finalist for the Doak Walker Award, named First-Team All-SEC, and projected by many draft analysts to be a second- or third-round pick had he declared for the 2025 NFL Draft. Scouts raved about his burst through the line, his soft hands out of the backfield, and his football IQ. For many players, such a resume would have made entering the draft a no-brainer.
But for Dylan Sampson, the calculus was more complicated—and more personal.
Sampson said he spent countless nights thinking, praying, and talking with his inner circle. His family, head coach Josh Heupel, running backs coach Jerry Mack, and trusted teammates all played vital roles in helping him weigh the pros and cons.
“I didn’t want to rush the biggest decision of my life,” Sampson said. “The NFL will still be there. But my time here with these guys, wearing this jersey, is something you can’t ever get back once it’s gone.”
He also spoke about the importance of completing his degree, becoming the first in his family to graduate from college—an achievement he said would mean “everything” to his parents and younger siblings.
“My mom sacrificed so much for me to get here,” he said, pausing for a moment to compose himself. “I owe it to her, and to myself, to walk across that stage with my diploma.”
In an era where athletes are often encouraged to “strike while the iron is hot,” Sampson’s mature, long-term thinking set him apart. While he acknowledged the allure of the NFL and the financial incentives that come with it, he made it clear that he wasn’t willing to leave unfinished business behind in Knoxville.
