Dallas Cowboys 2025 draft scouting report: RB Dylan Sampson

We proceed our 2025 NFL Draft preview of draft prospects that might curiosity the Dallas Cowboys. Immediately we’re taking a look at operating again Dylan Sampson from Tennessee.

RB
Tennessee volunteers
Junior
4-star recruit
5’8”
200 lbs

Historical past

Dylan Sampson was born on the 14th September, 2004 and is initially from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the place he attended Dutchtown Excessive Faculty. In highschool, he was a standout participant, recognized for his velocity, imaginative and prescient, and flexibility, speeding for over 1,900 yards and scoring greater than 30 touchdowns in his senior season, breaking Eddie Lacy’s college information. He was a four-star recruit and outperformed expectations.

At Tennessee, Sampson made a right away impression as a freshman in 2022, exhibiting explosive playmaking capacity and incomes a job in a crowded backfield. Regardless of enjoying behind veteran backs, he showcased his explosiveness and imaginative and prescient each time given the chance. He completed the 12 months with 397 speeding yards on simply 58 carries (averaging 6.8 yards per carry) and 6 touchdowns, highlighted by large performances towards UT Martin and Vanderbilt. His capacity to interrupt off lengthy runs and contribute as a receiver out of the backfield rapidly made him a fan favourite and a key rotational participant.

Sampson continued to develop right into a key contributor in 2023, recognized for his agility, acceleration, and talent to each run between the tackles and catch passes out of the backfield. He totaled 604 speeding yards on 106 carries (5.7 yards per carry) and scored seven speeding touchdowns, whereas additionally contributing 22 receptions for 194 yards and one receiving landing. He demonstrated improved endurance and power to associate with his velocity, typically offering important performs in tight video games. His standout performances included large moments towards Virginia and Texas A&M, solidifying himself as one of many SEC’s extra harmful all-purpose backs.

In 2024, Sampson delivered on his excessive expectations, rising as Tennessee’s lead operating again and one of many SEC’s most dependable offensive threats. He rushed for 1,491 yards with an unbelievable whole of twenty-two speeding touchdowns, constantly exhibiting his trademark velocity, agility, and toughness between the tackles. Sampson additionally grew to become a key a part of the passing sport, including 143 receiving yards and several other big-play by way of the air. His performances in matchups, together with robust showings towards Georgia and Alabama, cemented his popularity as a flexible, all-purpose again and a frontrunner for the Volunteers’ offense.

2024 Statistics

598 Offensive Snaps
258 Rush Makes an attempt
1,491 Rush Yards
5.8 YPC
22 Complete TDs
20 Receptions
342 Receiving Yards
4 Fumbles
78 First Downs
70 Missed Tackles Pressured
1 Penalty

NFL Mix/Professional Day

10-Yard Cut up- 1.58s (72%)
40-Yard Sprint- 4.48s (90%)
Vertical- 35” (67%)
Broad- 10’4” (89%)

Awards

All-American (2024)
SEC Offensive Participant of the 12 months (2024)
First-team All-SEC (2024)

Scorecard

Total- 83.9
Velocity- 88
Acceleration- 91
Agility- 90
Power- 70
Contact Stability- 79
Imaginative and prescient- 94
Elusiveness- 87
Receiving- 74
Blocking- 58
Self-discipline- 99

THE GOOD

• Has glorious burst and acceleration, permitting him to hit holes rapidly and attain high velocity in a flash.
• His agility and talent to make defenders miss in house are standout traits.
• He’s harmful on cutbacks and in open-field conditions.
• A real all-purpose again, he’s efficient as a pass-catcher out of the backfield.
• Reveals maturity past his years in establishing blocks, studying defenses, and ready for the precise lanes to open.
• Coaches constantly reward his effort in apply, movie research, and management progress.
• Runs with willpower and isn’t afraid of contact, typically falling ahead and combating for additional yards.

THE BAD

• Barely undersized for a workhorse position on the NFL degree, which may elevate sturdiness issues in a professional setting.
• Nonetheless growing consistency as a blocker; larger blitzing linebackers may give him hassle.
• Whereas robust and prepared, he’s not a real energy again who will run over defenders constantly.
• Has had occasional ball safety lapses underneath contact.
• Though elusive, he typically goes down on first contact towards bodily tacklers moderately than bouncing off hits.
• At occasions runs too upright, which may make him a better goal for tackles and restrict yards after contact.

THE FIT

Dylan Sampson tasks as a dynamic change-of-pace or committee again with the potential to develop right into a characteristic position in the precise system. His velocity, versatility, and playmaking capacity will attraction to groups on the lookout for an explosive weapon who can contribute instantly on third down and particular groups, with upside to grow to be an every-down again if he provides power and refines his go safety.

Sampson tasks as a Day 2 choose with the potential to turn into an every-down again within the NFL. He wants to enhance his consistency in go safety, as he can typically wrestle to anchor towards larger rushers and should refine his method and consciousness in blitz pickup. Moreover, growing extra energy in his operating model and enhancing contact stability will assist him break extra tackles and achieve robust yards between the tackles. Including power and operating with decrease pad degree will likely be key to dealing with short-yardage conditions and turning into a extra full, every-down again on the subsequent degree. His greatest space for enchancment is ball safety, he had 4 fumbles in 2024.

Sampson could be an intriguing match for the Dallas Cowboys, who’re in want of a flexible again to enhance their offense and present crop of not too long ago added operating backs. His explosiveness and talent to make performs in house would pair properly with the Cowboys’ bodily offensive line and proposed play-action-heavy system. Specifically, he may thrive on outdoors zone runs, fast screens, and wheel routes, giving Dak Prescott a dependable checkdown and home-run menace.

Whereas he might not be the every-down energy again instantly, he may fill the spell-type position with big-play capacity and steadily tackle extra touches as he develops power and go safety expertise. His velocity and flexibility would add juice to a Dallas backfield on the lookout for extra explosiveness and stability.

COMPARISON:

Tony Pollard, Tennessee Titans

BTB GRADE:

seventieth

CONSENSUS RANKING:

96th
(Consensus rating primarily based on the typical rating from 90 main scoring companies, together with BTB)