2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Dylan Sampson (RB – Tennessee)

FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL Draft scouting reports before the Combine in March. Here’s a look at Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson. And check out our entire 2025 NFL Draft Guide.

2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Dylan Sampson

Dylan Sampson (RB – Tennessee)

5-foot-11 | 210 Pounds

Background

Dylan Sampson was a four-star recruit who rotated in to the tune of 58-397-6 (6.8) as a freshman. He then split carries with Jaylen Wright the following year, ending the season with a line of 106-604-7 (5.7). After Wright went pro, Sampson took over the starting role this past season and put together a monster line of 256-1,485-22 (5.8). Also has 39 career receptions, all but three of which came over the past two years.

Positives

Took over a starting role this season and dominated against SEC competition in Tennessee’s gap-based offense, working as the team’s featured back. For a smaller runner, Sampson was asked to do a lot of running up the middle and showed good toughness there. Runs with a good knee bend and a low center of gravity, with the ability to disappear behind his blockers and find a crease. His vision to recognize cut-back lanes is impressive when running single-cut concepts.

Sampson has nice bounce and lateral quickness to make jump-cuts and slide himself into rushing lanes, with crisp, clean footwork. Shows good creativity to make something out of nothing when the lanes are clogged. Shows good burst and top-end speed to run away from second-level defenders when he finds a lane. Able to pinball off of some glancing blows.

Feisty back with good determination and leg drive after contact; works hard through the whistle. Shows a good willingness to stand in and take on blockers from his feet in blitz pickup. Was retained there pretty often this past season. Has the athletic profile to make defenders miss in space when working as a receiver on swing passes and releases into the flats.

Negatives

On the smaller side for a feature back, Sampson has a somewhat thin build. Could show a little bit more patience when working between the tackles to let the play develop. Rarely breaks out of a wrap tackle. Doesn’t have much power to push the pile; more effort-based after contact than someone who’s going to routinely carry defenders.

Fumbled four times this past season. Overall ball security has been pretty solid, with five career fumbles on 423 carries. Guilty of the occasional focus drop as a receiver. Was never very heavily integrated into the team’s passing game. Awareness in blitz pickup is a work in progress, and doesn’t have a ton of sand in his pants. Lapses into throwing a shoulder at blitzers.

Summary

A fun, feisty running back prospect who doesn’t have ideal size or power, but makes up for it with impressive competitiveness, toughness and decisiveness. Those traits blend with a nice combination of quickness, burst and speed to make Sampson a surprisingly effective between-the-tackles runner.

Was able to effectively carry the load in college this season, but will probably be viewed as more of a rotational/change-of-pace back at the next level. His big junior season should have him in the mid-round conversation.

Projection: Round 4/Round 5

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Ashton Jeanty (Boise State)

Jeanty proved he’s the total package this past season, with an unbelievable combination of vision, patience, creativity, agility, power, balance and speed that nearly allowed him to break Barry Sanders’ single-season rushing record.

Can fit in any offensive scheme, but might be best in a scheme that runs a relatively high amount of outside zone to maximize his home-run hitting ability. After a year in which he dazzled viewers with a nonstop succession of dominant highlights, Jeanty should be a lock for the first round, potentially going in the top half of the frame. Projects as a long-term, every-down feature back who should make an immediate impact.

Projection: Round 1

Check out the full 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report for Ashton Jeanty

Cam Skattebo (Arizona State)

Skattebo was one of the most productive and exciting players in college football this past season. He combined a natural feel for the position, smooth running skills, a tough and physical temperament and exceptional contact balance, culminating in well over 2,000 total yards on the season.

There’s not a whole lot to critique about his game, besides his lack of ideal explosiveness and long speed. Otherwise, Skattebo has the look of a potential every-down back in the league or at least the power back in a one-two punch. Could get some second-day looks.

Projection: Round 3/Round 4

Check out the full 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report for Cam Skattebo

Devin Neal (Kansas)

A fast, agile back with good burst and excellent open-field running skills, Neal functioned as a workhorse for the Jayhawks but might be more of a change-of-pace back at the next level, as he may struggle to grind out tough yardage between the tackles as a pro.

Neal’s snaps were relatively balanced throughout his career (more gap until this past season, then a little bit more zone), but might be better suited to a zone-blocking scheme where he’s able to stretch defenses out and cut upfield when he sees daylight. Probably more of a mid-round option.

Projection: Round 5

Check out the full 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report for Devin Neal

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