The accolades are beginning to roll in for the best player on the Tennessee Volunteers’ roster in 2024.
A couple of days after being named SEC Offensive Player of the Year, Sampson was named a Walter Camp All-American on Friday. Sampson was named as a second-team member, along with UNC running back Omarion Hampton.
A historic season earned @dylans21527 a spot on the @WalterCampFF All-America team#GBO pic.twitter.com/bj5m1qIQ5m
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) December 13, 2024
The nation’s oldest and most prestigious All-America teams @WalterCampFF https://t.co/VoPUVl03E0 pic.twitter.com/rKxBoEvZWL
— Walter Camp Football (@WalterCampFF) December 13, 2024
Not surprisingly, Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty is a first team selection. He’s a Heisman finalist with a legit shot at the award (even if Travis Hunter will probably win it). Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson was a little bit closer of a comparison, rushing for one less touchdown than Sampson but 52 more yards.
The nod is a welcome one after the results of the Doak Walker Award, which goes to the nation’s top running back, were revealed. Sampson wasn’t even named a finalist for the award, which is absolutely wild given his output this year and how he’s basically carried Tennessee’s offense at times this season on the way to the College Football Playoff.
Sampson has simply had one of the best seasons in a long time by a ballcarrier in the SEC, and surely the best in Tennessee football history with 1485 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns, the most rushing and total scores in a single season in Tennessee football history. His 22 rushing scores are the fifth most in SEC history, and Sampson can tie Florida’s Tim Tebow and Auburn’s Tre Mason for third all-time with one more rushing score this season.
Congrats to Dylan on the well-deserved honor.