HE IS back. The all-time player for the Tennessee volunteers has officially announced his return.
Dylan Sampson, a rising junior running back for the Tennessee Volunteers, announced his return to the team for the 2024 season on Sunday. “I’m blessed to announce my return to the University of Tennessee and [The Vol Club] 2024 roster,” Sampson wrote on Sunday afternoon.
There was never any doubt that Sampson would return for the 2024 season, but his official announcement, which is typical in the new world of year-to-year NIL contracts, ensures that he will be Tennessee’s top running back next autumn. Sampson has already emerged as a significant team leader for Tennessee this offseason, with running backs Jaylen Wright and Jabari Small leaving for the NFL.
Sampson immediately challenged his teammates to “get to work” following the Vols’ Citrus Bowl victory against Iowa. “But that’s what this work [is for] going into next season, so we make sure we’re playing at this time next year,” Sampson said following the Iowa win. “That’s the goal: to be playing at this time next year and competing in another game. As soon as we concluded the game, I informed everyone that it was time to go to work. Everyone is ready to go to work. It’s time to get off the grid and come up in 2024 prepared to dominate.”
Last season, as Tennessee’s No. 3 running back, Sampson carried for 604 yards and seven touchdowns, as well as 175 receiving yards and one touchdown. The Louisiana native is ready for a career season in 2024, when he takes over as the Volunteers’ main back.
