We all thought we had Tennessee’s football team figured out back in 2022. Little did we know how much things can change.
The Vols’ offense was supposed to be all about tempo and wide horizontal splits when Tennessee made a strong run towards the College Football Playoff two years ago but fell just short of the affair, which was made up of only four teams at the time. Just like the CFP format, the Vols have evolved.
First, Tennessee has a very good defense that should give them an advantage over Ohio State when the Vols take on the Buckeyes in Columbus on Dec. 20 in the first round of the CFP. Second, Tennessee has shown the ability to run the football at a high level. We always knew that the Vols were a run-first team under head coach Josh Heupel. However, he’s further proven that this season by being willing to hunker down and get tough yards on the ground despite his propensity to want to chuck the ball downfield.
Then, there’s that 12-personnel, which means the Vols can play two tight ends at a time instead of three receivers. With that offense, Tennessee has proven quite adept at pushing teams around and protecting redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava. Instead of placing all the onus on Iamaleava, the Vols have been able to lean on running back Dylan Sampson.
“Like you can’t really call something like that,” Tennessee center Cooper Mays said of Sampson’s season, which included 1,485 yards and 22 touchdowns. “But I do know what kind of player he was. And I know how we’d block for him as long as they gave him the ball. And you know, I’m glad that it’s played out the way it has. I can’t say I’m super shocked just because I know how he operates and you know what he can do as a football player. But, pretty awesome. Pretty awesome.”
Indeed.
Sampson is a semifinalist for the Maxwell and Doak Walker Awards as one of the top players and tailbacks in the nation respectively. He leads the SEC in 11 different categories, is third nationally in rushing touchdowns and is tied for first in the Power Four with his school-record 22 rushing TDs. That number is the most by an SEC player since Alabama’s Najee Harris had an FBS-best 26 in 2020. He’s tied for fifth-most rushing scores in SEC single-season history.
Mays and his mates block hard for any tailback in the game, but Sampson can make average blocking look great.
“Technique may not be perfect,” Mays said. “A lot of stuff may not be perfect. But when you turn the film on, I think we try to play a physical brand of football. So when you’re being physical, stuff’s not perfect.”
Sampson doesn’t need a perfect blocking front to be great – or at least good. That being said, Mays doesn’t need a long, plodding scoring drive based on the run. He’s fine with some long scores via the pass as well.
“I’m a big fan of that,” Mays said with a smile. “You can control the line and not play in a 14-play drive. You can control the line for maybe 4 or 5 plays and there’s like a 60-yard score. I’m a huge fan of that. I like to score from afar.I don’t like to breathe very hard consistently. So, the more we can get off the field quick, that’s, you know, that’s my type of game.”
Mays knows the Vols can manufacture yards and points in different ways. He believes the Vols will need both against Ohio State.
“I think it’s I think it’s completely necessary to to play our brand of football,” Mays said. “We like to play with this offense. You gotta gotta be able to mix it up good.”
The Vols have proven they can do that.
