Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson just needed a shot. He got it against Akron.
Sampson chipped in a couple of touchdowns in the Vols’ 63-6 romp over the Zips. There were suddenly carries to be had when starting tailback Jabari Small went out of the game on the first series with an apparent right shoulder injury. Small’s status is uncertain, but he was seen working the shoulder out on the sidelines. No matter. Sampson, along with Jaylen Wright, managed to carry the load.
Wright rushed 23 times for 96 yards and two touchdowns while Sampson, who is just a freshman, tallied 57 yards and a pair of touchdowns on eight carries. Both of Sampson’s touchdowns came on fourth down and via a speed-option play that could be quite useful down the line.
“Samp is explosive, shifty, has great knowledge of the game and of the playbook,” Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker said. “That’s something that we noticed really early and just through scrimmages and things, we saw how special he was. It really wasn’t a shock that he had a night like tonight.”
The Vols probably didn’t have to have Sampson to beat Akron, but he certainly provided a spark. However, there’s cause for concern that the Vols have started relatively slow in two consecutive games, against Akron and Pittsburgh.
“Love to get started early, but sometimes that doesn’t happen,” Hooker said. “Just continue to play and continue to chip away and be in control of the offense and taking care of the ball.”
No one needed to be reminded after the Akron game that things will ratchet up this week. The Vols will face Florida in Neyland Stadium on Saturday. Tennessee has only beaten the Gators once since 2005 and has lost five consecutive games to its SEC East foe. Hooker seemed as if he’d treat this week just like any other.
“It’s always another opportunity to go 1-0,” he said. “We try to focus on one week at a time and this is our one-week season…back to work as normal, nothing new.
“Everybody’s coming in to do their job. If everybody does their job, we’ll end up being successful.”
History would indicate otherwise. However, Tennessee has shown it doesn’t lack confidence. That was evident in an overtime win against Pittsburgh last week and by some of comments the Vols have made about being one of the best offenses in the country.
Florida struggled to beat South Florida on Saturday. It seems as if this has been the case before, but the Vols look like a strong favorite to beat the Gators.
