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Quote from Tennessee Vols RB Dylan Sampson should get fans fired up

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Zach Ragan | Last updated 10/10/23

The Tennessee Vols' 2023 season got off to a somewhat slow start (compared to last season), but it feels like things are about to pick up for the program in the second half of the season.

Tennessee essentially had to figure out the identity of the 2023 team before they could find their rhythm. That's something the 2022 team had a head start on last season due to returning numerous key starters.

Over the last couple of weeks, we've seen Tennessee embrace its identity as a run-first team that imposes its will on teams on both sides of the line of scrimmage (the return of center Cooper Mays in Tennessee's win against South Carolina took the offensive line's play to a new level).

The explosive plays are still there for the Vols, they just seem to be coming more in the run game instead of the pass game.

Part of the reason for that is because of the ridiculous amount of talent that Tennessee has at running back. Senior Jabari Small, junior Jaylen Wright, and sophomore Dylan Sampson are all capable of breaking off big runs and scoring at anytime.

On Tuesday, Sampson spoke with reporters and he was asked about what makes Tennessee's three-headed monster at running back so effective.

“The mentality we put on when we put our cleats on at practice is to be the best. Practice the best, play the best, it's just that mentality. First guy not gonna bring us down….We give our all for Tennessee every time we touch the field.” — Vols RB Dylan Sampson pic.twitter.com/c4ZGteyrzX
— zach ragan (@zachtnt) October 10, 2023

"We always gotta give credit to the O-Line," said Sampson. "They start it. They're doing a good job straining. And then when you go into our running back room, it's just the mentality we choose to step on the field with. The mentality we put on when we put our cleats on at practice is to be the best. Practice the best, play the best, it's just that mentality. First guy is not gonna bring us down, man. There's no drop off when you put either one of us in the game. We give our all for Tennessee every time we touch the field. So we want to be the best."

It would be hard to argue that there's a more talented running back room in the nation than the one at Tennessee.

It's clear that UT's running backs are ready to carry the load for the offense. And that'll be especially important in the second half of the season. Having three running backs who could start anywhere in the nation allows the Vols to keep all three fresh for the stretch run of the season without any drop off regardless of which running back is in the game.

Those fresh legs will be important as the bumps and bruises of a long season add up. While other team's running backs are running out of gas late in the season, Tennessee's will be as fresh as possible thanks to the shared load between the three.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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