Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson has declared for the NFL Draft, making the announcement on social media after a standout junior season in which he led the Southeastern Conference in rushing and shattered several school records.

Sampson played a crucial role in helping the seventh-ranked Tennessee Volunteers achieve a 10-3 record, although their season ended with a first-round exit in the College Football Playoff, during which he was hindered by a hamstring injury.

In his heartfelt message, Sampson expressed gratitude to his family, coaches, and fans, acknowledging the invaluable experiences he gained during his time with the program. Reflecting on his journey, he noted that he began with a challenging 3-7 season in 2020, but now departs with the Vols celebrating a total of 30 victories across his three seasons.

“I poured my heart and soul into this program and this community,” wrote Sampson. “With that being said, I will be declaring for the 2025 NFL Draft.”

Sampson notably set a school record by rushing for 1,491 yards and achieved a remarkable 22 rushing touchdowns, the most in the conference and a new program record that broke a long-standing mark from 1928. He joined the team as part of coach Josh Heupel’s first complete signing class in December 2021, hailing from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

In addition to his rushing accomplishments, he also recorded school-high totals for total touchdowns (22), points scored (132), and consecutive games with a rushing touchdown (11). Throughout the season, he led the SEC in nine different statistical categories, which included rushing attempts (258), rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, and more. Sampson averaged an impressive 114.7 rushing yards per game, racked up 1,638 all-purpose yards, and averaged 126.0 all-purpose yards per game, tying for fifth in SEC history for rushing touchdowns in a single season alongside notable players like Leonard Fournette of LSU.