Dylan Sampson wrote his name in the Tennessee football record books on Saturday night, scoring two touchdowns against Kentucky to become the Vols’ single-season rushing touchdown record holder.
The junior running back did it in just eight games and with four more regular season games plus whatever remains in the postseason. So what other program records could Sampson rewrite this season?
Let’s keep looking at touchdowns where Sampson is now tied for third in Tennessee history with 32 rushing touchdowns in his career. He’s just five touchdowns behind Gene McEver’s 37 career rushing touchdowns which is the most in Tennessee history.
If Sampson continues at his current pace this season then he would shatter that record but even if he doesn’t he still has a great chance to break the career record.
Following Tennessee’s win over Kentucky, Sampson’s now rushed for 980 yards this season and he’s now in striking distance of becoming the Vols’ single-season rushing yards record holder. Travis Stephens’ 1,464 yards during the 2001 season is currently the Tennessee program record.
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Sampson needs to average 122 rushing yards per game to break the record in the regular season and 97 yards per game to break it if he were to play in one postseason game. The Baton Rouge, Louisiana native is averaging 122.5 rushing yards per game this season meaning he’s just on pace to break Stephens record in the regular season.
However, Tennessee still has to face Georgia, the best rushing defense on their schedule as well as UTEP which could be a game where Sampson gets very few carries due to the likely lopsided nature of the game.
Sampson’s rushed for 100-plus yards in seven of eight games this season which ties him for the second most 100-yard rushing games in a single season in program history. However, he’ll have to continue at that rate if he wants the program record because Jay Graham rushed for 100-plus yards 11 times during the 1995 season.
The star Tennessee running back looks to continue his incredible season on Saturday night when Tennessee hosts Mississippi State at Neyland Stadium. He’ll have chances to turn in another big game as Mississippi State has by far the worst rushing defense in the SEC.
