For Tennessee Volunteers running back Dylan Sampson, football has always been about more than just the game. It’s about purpose, dreams, and people. And for Sampson, one of those dreams was to meet his hero—a goal he held close to his heart for years.
“If the time is right, I’m going to Tennessee,” Sampson once said quietly, long before he ever donned the orange and white. It wasn’t just a college decision. It was personal. Deep down, he believed that Tennessee would lead him to the moment he’d been waiting for—to stand face-to-face with the person who inspired him to pursue greatness.
That moment finally came.
After arriving in Knoxville and earning his place on the Volunteers roster, Sampson didn’t just prove himself on the field—he kept that promise to himself. When the opportunity finally arrived to meet his childhood idol, it was more than a handshake. It was a full-circle moment of gratitude, hard work, and faith aligning.
The identity of that hero remains close to Sampson’s chest, but whether it was a legendary Vol, a personal mentor, or a figure who once lit the spark in him as a young athlete, the message remains the same: some dreams are worth waiting for.
Sampson’s story is a reminder that college football isn’t just about rankings and stats—it’s about stories like his. It’s about young athletes who carry hope, humility, and heart into every rep, every game, and every decision they make.
Now thriving in Tennessee’s backfield, Dylan Sampson runs with more than speed—he runs with purpose. And for him, that purpose started with a dream, and a promise: “I’ll meet him one day.”
