The Vols running back Dylan Sampson has been recognized with the coveted Maxwell Award for Excellence and Exceptional Contribution to the

It appears there’s some confusion here — Dylan Sampson was not the recipient of the Maxwell Award for 2024. He was a semifinalist in November 2024, but ultimately did not win the award

• In mid‑October 2024, Sampson earned a spot on the Maxwell Award watch list, which is reserved for the top 17 players in college football at mid-season
• By early November, he progressed to being named a semifinalist — one of 16 elite players under serious consideration .
• Though a tremendous feat in itself, being a semifinalist is still two steps short of the final honor.
• As of the award announcement in mid-December, Sampson was not among the finalists or the winner.
• Established in 1937, the Maxwell Award recognizes the most outstanding player, judged not just on on-field performance but also leadership and character
• Historically, winning requires:
  1. Visibility on the watch list
  2. Selection as a semifinalist
  3. Maintaining elite performance through season’s end
  4. Being named a finalist
  5. Winning at the formal Maxwell Football Club ceremony in March
• Sampson excelled through step 2, but was not selected as a finalist or winner.

If Dylan Sampson had defeated the finalists and claimed the Maxwell Award, it would have dramatically elevated his legacy in several ways:

1. College Football Prestige
   • He’d join the ranks of legends like Doug Flutie, Eddie George, and DeVonta Smith.
   • Tennessee has had few Maxwell winners; he would have been one of the most recent.
2. NFL Expectations
   • A Maxwell win typically propels a player into the mid–1st to 2nd-round draft conversation.
   • Scouts place high value on winners who demonstrate excellence, leadership, and consistency.
3. Personal & Cultural Impact
   • The award would be a capstone on his journey from under-recruited running back to national star.
   • His acceptance speech—and Tennessee’s ascension—would be replayed and remembered every award season.
4. Program Spotlight
   • UT’s storied football history would be further embellished with a Maxwell winner.
   • It would reinforce Tennessee’s resurgence as a powerhouse in the post‐2020 era.

Here’s a glance at the building blocks he truly earned:

After his electrifying junior campaign, Sampson declared for the 2025 NFL Draft in late December 2024. Scouts have since been buzzing about his:

• Game-breaking top-end speed (22–23 mph)
• Vision and shiftiness
• But questions remain around ball security and pass-catching polish

Expect him to hear his name in mid-rounds, provided he continues to lock in week-to-week.

While it’s not accurate that Dylan Sampson received—or has received—the Maxwell Award, his 2024 season was indisputably historic. He rewrote Tennessee’s record books, earned multiple national honors, and set himself up as a top NFL prospect.

Would you like to see a breakdown of his NFL Draft projections, a compilation of his season highlights, or even a comparison to past Maxwell winners? Just say the word!