The Associated Press named Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson the SEC Offensive Player of the Year on Wednesday.
The announcement comes just a few days after Sampson was named the SEC Player of the Year by the USA Today sports network.
UPDATE: Tennessee RB Dylan Sampson was also named the Offensive Player of the Year by the Southeastern Conference on Wednesday.
🏈 2024 #SECFB Offensive Player of the Year
Dylan Sampson, @Vol_Football
🔗 https://t.co/GEYtJqqTaJ pic.twitter.com/wa4zgdRwx7
— Southeastern Conference (@SEC) December 11, 2024
Sampson’s record-setting 2024 campaign was nothing short of historic.
The Louisiana native captured two all-time Tennessee program records during the 12-game regular season. Sampson rushed for 22 touchdowns and scored 132 points, which are both good for single-season Tennessee football records.
In total, Sampson racked up 1,485 yards and 22 rushing touchdowns on 256 carries. The 5-foot-11 running back also added in 141 yards on 19 receptions throughout the season.
Sampson also helped lead Tennessee to its first-ever College Football Playoffs berth this season as the Vols will take on Ohio State on Dec. 21 in Ohio Stadium.
Sampson led the SEC this season in rushing attempts (256), rush yards (1,485), rushing touchdowns (22), scoring (132), and all-purpose yards (1,626) en route to his AP SEC Offensive Player of the Year award from the conference on Wednesday.
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Sampson began the season with three straight 100+ yard games and then fell just eight yards short of 100 yards in Tennessee’s fourth game against Oklahoma. Sampson then returned to form and rattled off six straight 100+ yard games including against Arkansas, Florida, Alabama, Kentucky, and Georgia.
In the three-game stretch including Alabama, Kentucky, and Mississippi State, the Tennessee running back averaged more than 143 yards per game on the ground.
While he looks to be the runaway favorite for the various SEC Offensive Player of the Year awards, Sampson was snubbed from both the Heisman Trophy and the Doak Walker Award given to the nation’s best running back.
Sampson spoke with Jim Rome during an interview last Thursday and acknowledged that while he feels like he deserves to be in those conversations, he isn’t letting award season validate his work or his attitude. Sampson says that he and his team know his value to the game and especially Tennessee’s offensive scheme.
“Certain things don’t, I don’t let validate me,” Sampson said on the show. “It would be great to be in those conversations, I do think I’ve done everything possible to deserve being in those conversations, but those things don’t value me.”
Including Sampson’s OPotY award on Wednesday, the Associated Press dished out four total awards.
South Carolina defensive lineman Kyle Kennard is the AP SEC Defensive Player of the Year, South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer is the AP SEC Coach of the Year, and Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia is the AP SEC Newcomer of the Year.
The AP also named Dylan Sampson a First Team All-SEC Selection on Wednesday.
