The Dallas Cowboys are sitting at 3-4 with a tough matchup this Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons. There are plenty of alarming issues with the Cowboys and inefficiency in the run game may be at the top of their list. They rank last in the NFL with 74.1 rushing yards per game and a dynamic back should be at the top of their to-do list for next year’s draft. Luckily for Dallas, the 2025 running back draft class is deep and there’s a lot of talent to choose from.
If the Cowboys somehow miss out on the Ashton Jeanty or Ollie Gordon II sweepstakes there’s another name that would be an instant upgrade for the Cowboys backfield, Dylan Sampson from the University of Tennessee. The 5’11” junior became the workhorse for the Volunteers ahead of the 2024 season. Through seven games he leads the SEC in rushing with 119.7 yards per game. He’s rushed for 838 yards and is third in the nation in rushing touchdowns (17). Sampson has rushed for 100 yards or more and two or more touchdowns in six of his seven games this season.
With five regular season games to go Sampson is eyeing the opportunity to take the top spot for two Vols’ rushing records. He’s two touchdowns away from breaking the single-season touchdown record (19) and eight touchdowns away from the most career rushing touchdowns (37), both records held by Gene McEver. As of October, he had been added to the midseason watch list for the Maxwell Award and came into the season on the Preseason watch list for the Doak Walker Award.
What Does He Bring?
Sampson is a dynamic and versatile back who can be a weapon as both a runner and a pass catcher. He offers great lower-body strength and contact balance, which allows him to bounce off and run through tackles. Along with his strong lower body, he displays great vision, explosiveness, and speed, which makes him effective while running in between the tackles and on the edges.
On the next level, Sampson will thrive and could instantly bring a dynamic running style to an offense. His skill set will allow him to be heavily involved in an offense, and he has the versatility to be lined up in different positions on the field. As a ball carrier, he has a lot to offer and can continue to prove himself as a pass blocker, which would help mold him into a three-down back in the NFL.
Sampson to Dallas?
Sampson will be eligible for the 2025 NFL Draft but it’s unknown if he will declare or not. If he does, he’ll be one of the top running backs available. He’s projected to be a day-two pick but would still be a great choice in the second round. If the Cowboys decided to hold off on a running back, if he’s available in round two he would be a great fit for a Cowboys team that struggles tremendously on the ground.
