Dylan Sampson

Dylan Jacob Sampson (born September 14, 2004) is an American professional football running back for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers and was the 2024 SEC Offensive Player of the Year after rushing for 22 touchdowns with 1,400 yards. Sampson was selected by the Browns in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL draft.

Dylan Sampson

No. 22 – Cleveland Browns
Position:	Running back
Personal information
Born:	(2004-09-14) September 14, 2004 (age 20) Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S.
Height:	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Weight:	200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High school:	Dutchtown (Geismar, Louisiana)
College:	Tennessee (2022–2024)
NFL draft:	2025: 4th round, 126th pick
Career history
Cleveland Browns (2025–present)
Roster status:	Active
Career highlights and awards
Second-team All-American (2024) SEC Offensive Player of the Year (2024)
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Early life

Sampson was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and attended Dutchtown High School in Geismar, Louisiana.^[1][2] During his high school career, Sampson surpassed Eddie Lacy as the school's all-time leading rusher.^[3][4] As a junior, he ran for 1,327 yards and 15 touchdowns in eight games.^[5] He followed that up as a senior by rushing for 1,374 yards and 22 touchdowns.^[6] A four-star recruit, Sampson committed to play college football at the University of Tennessee over offers from Arkansas, Mississippi State, LSU and Penn State.^[7][8]

College career

As a freshman, Sampson ran for 397 yards and six touchdowns on 58 carries, in addition to leading the team with 6.8 yards per carry.^[9][10] In the 2023 season opener against Virginia, he recorded four total touchdowns—three rushing and one receiving—helping lead the Volunteers to a 49−13 victory.^[11] Against UTSA, Sampson rushed for a career-high 139 yards and two touchdowns.^[12] After playing as a backup through the majority of his first two seasons, Sampson got an opportunity to make his first career start against Iowa in the Citrus Bowl.^[13] Against Iowa, he rushed for 133 yards on 20 carries.^[14][15] Sampson finished his sophomore season rushing for 604 yards and seven touchdowns while also recording 175 receiving yards for a touchdown.^[16]

In the 2024 season, Sampson broke the school record for single-season rushing touchdowns, a mark previously held by Gene McEver since the 1929 season.^[17] At the end of the year, he was named First-Team All-SEC and earned SEC Offensive Player of the Year.^[18]

On December 27, 2024, Sampson declared for the 2025 NFL draft.^[19]

College statistics

Season	Games	Rushing				Receiving
	GP	Att	Yards	Avg	TD	Rec	Yards	Avg	TD
2022	10	58	397	6.8	6	3	24	8.0	0
2023	12	106	604	5.7	7	17	175	10.3	1
2024	12	256	1,485	5.8	22	19	141	7.4	0
Career	34	420	2,486	5.9	35	39	340	8.7	1

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables

Height	Weight	Arm length	Hand span	40-yard dash	10-yard split	20-yard split	Vertical jump	Broad jump	Bench press
5 ft 8+1⁄8 in (1.73 m)	200 lb (91 kg)	30+1⁄2 in (0.77 m)	8+3⁄4 in (0.22 m)	4.46 s	1.58 s	2.59 s	35.0 in (0.89 m)	10 ft 4 in (3.15 m)	13 reps
All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day[20][21]

Sampson was selected in the fourth round, with the 126th overall pick of the 2025 NFL draft by the Cleveland Browns.^[22] He signed a contract with the team on May 9, 2025.^[23]