One could argue that Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson had a “Heisman Trophy” moment last week. Still, he needs to do much more to bring home the coveted award based on reaction from various voters of college football’s most prestigious honor.
Knoxville talk-show host Will West still has Sampson eighth on his Heisman list, behind Miami quarterback Cam Ward, Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe, Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel, Colorado athlete Travis Hunter and Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart.
Longtime Heisman voter Jimmy Hyams is considering Sampson a strong Heisman candidate and why not?
The Doak Walker candidate reached a pair of milestones against State on Saturday. He finished the game with with 30 carries for 149 rushing yards, which were both career highs. He eclipsed 1,000 yards on the ground this season and 2,000 for his collegiate career, with those respective totals standing at 1,129 and 2,130.
Sampson scored his 20th rushing touchdown of the season with 3:31 left in the third quarter, moving him into a tie with Arkansas’ Alex Collins (2015) and Auburn’s Cam Newton, who won the Heisman Trophy, for eighth-most in SEC single-season history.
The score also upped Sampson’s career total on the ground to 33, moving him past former UT quarterback Joshua Dobbs (2013-16) for sole possession of third place on the program’s all-time leaderboard.
Sampson is the second player in Tennessee history with eight 100-yard rushing games in a single season, joining Jay Graham, who had 11 in 1995. The junior running back also increased his career mark to 12 100-yard rushing performances, breaking a tie with Jalen Hurd (2014-16) for fifth place all-time at Tennessee.
Sampson is the fifth Tennessee player ever to amass five straight 100-yard games in a single season, joining Jay Graham (nine in 1995), Johnnie Jones (six in 1984), Arian Foster (five in 2005) and Chuck Webb (five in 1989). Then, there’s that all-time single season rushing touchdowns record. Sampson already holds that record.
Sampson broke Tennessee’s single-season record for rushing touchdowns earlier this season against Kentucky. He entered the Mississippi State game with 19. Former Vol halfback Gene McEver previously held that record when he scored 18 touchdowns in 1929.
Alabama’s Derrick Henry holds the SEC record with 28 rushing touchdowns during his 2015 Heisman Trophy season. Only nine players in SEC history have scored at least 20 rushing touchdowns in a season.
“I strongly consider Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson a Heisman Trophy candidate,” Hyams said. “He is on pace to set Tennessee single-season records for rushing yards and total touchdowns. If he has a huge game against Georgia and the Vols win, and he continues to churn out 130-yard games, he’ll be hard to ignore. Also, his candidacy could depend on how others perform. I don’t see a lot of slam dunk players right now.”
Oddsmakers would agree. Travis Hunter is considered the favorite at +100, followed Jeanty, Gabriel and Ward. Sampson is still a long shot and has a +20000 chance of winning the award.
Heisman voter John Adams of the Knoxville News Sentinel said he’d have Sampson at eighth-best if the award was voted on right now. However, he said Sampson is the best running back in the SEC.
As for ESPN’s Ryan McGee, he said, “Top five for sure. I’d have him third with a chance to jump to No. 1 at Georgia. He’s criminally overlooked. Now that Cam Ward is falling off radars, I’m hoping he’ll get more attention.”
Regional talk-show host Chuck Oliver said, “ The most outstanding eligible player in college football is Travis Hunter, then Shedeur, then probably five others in third and Sampson is one of the five.”
ESPN talk-show host Paul Finebaum said he’s have Sampson in the Top Five. Knoxville talk-show host Tyler Ivens thinks Sampson has a long way to go.
“Vegas has him pegged correct at 13th,” he said. “With it essentially being “the best quarterback” award in today’s age, I totally understand why he’s buried.”
A strong performance at Georgia could help resurrect Sampson’s Heisman campaign.
