Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson was not one of the three finalists for the Doak Walker Award, announced on Tuesday. The award is given annually to the nation’s top running back and despite a phenomenal season, Sampson was not a finalist.
Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty, North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton and Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson landed as finalists over Sampson.
Sampson has had a breakout junior season in Knoxville, rushing for 1,307 yards and 22 touchdowns through 11 games. The Baton Rouge, Louisiana native has just two games with less than 100 yards, rushing for 92 yards at Oklahoma and 77 yards on just 11 caries against UTEP.
Jeanty is the heavy favorite to win the award and one of the top Heisman candidates with one week to play in the regular season. The Boise State tailback leads the nation with 275 carries, 2,062 yards and 27 touchdowns.
While Jeanty is unquestionably the best running back in the nation, there’s an argument to be made that Sampson is the second best running back. Johnson has totaled 1,492 yards on 6.7 yards per carry while totaling 21 rushing touchdowns. Hampton’s rushed for 1,475 yards on 5.7 yards per carry while totaling just 14 touchdowns. UCF’s RJ Harvey also has a strong case to be a finalist, totaling 1,458 yards and 21 touchdowns on just 212 carries.
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Jeanty, Johnson and Harvey all average more yards per carry than Sampson while Johnson has averages the same number of yards per carry.
What Sampson does have in his favor is that he is undoubtedly the top playmaker in the SEC— the nation’s top conference. Tennessee’s running back leads the conference in nearly every major statistic.
the SEC’s Most Valuable Player is @dylans21527 🤔 pic.twitter.com/qd8OPkCEOt
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) November 26, 2024
Sampson has had one of the best seasons of any Tennessee running back in program history. He’s already broken the single-season rushing touchdown record, needs just two more 100 yard games to tie the single-season 100-yard games record and just 158 yards away from breaking the single-season rushing yards record.
The Vols’ star running back is looking to continue his stellar season on Saturday when Tennessee faces Vanderbilt in its regular season finale. Kickoff at FirstBank Stadium is at noon ET and ABC is broadcasting the game.
Resume’s for top contenders
Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty
- 275 carries, 2,062 yards, 7.5 YPC, 27 touchdowns
- 18 catches, 152 yards, 1 touchdown
Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson
- 223 carries, 1,492 yards, 6.7 YPC, 21 touchdowns
- 20 catches, 115 yards, 1 touchdown
North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton
- 259 carries, 1,475 yards, 5.7 YPC, 14 touchdowns
- 34 catches, 295 yards, 1 touchdown
Tennessee’s Dylan Sampson
- 231 carries, 1,307 yards, 5.7 YPC, 22 touchdowns
- 17 catches, 135 yards, 0 touchdowns
UCF’s RJ Harvey
- 212 carries, 1,458 yards, 6.9 YPC, 21 touchdowns
- 17 catches, 248 yards, 2 touchdowns
