Ever since Dylan Sampson set foot on that turf, he has become an anomaly for the Vols football. In his first game against NCSU, the dude went for 2 touchdowns and 20 carries. And the momentum never stopped. Against Kent, Dylan Sampson probably had the best game of this season. Going for 4 total touchdowns with the Vols securing the W at MASSIVE 71-0. Sampson has quickly become one of the best breakout stars in the entire country and has carried the Vols easily with 1100+ yards and 20 touchdowns under his belt. And as the Vols near the playoff race with their 8-1 run, Sampson needs all the motivation he can find.

And it looks like the RB has just discovered a star he can look forward to for that motivation. On YouTube, ESPN shared a clip of Sampson’s latest visit to South Africa. Now what is special about this trip? Well, the Vols RB got to meet up with para-athlete Simphiwe Ditshaba. This 13-year-old kid managed to show Sampson what true perseverance feels like. “He always loved sports. Just to see someone with that vibrant energy and that much passion, it makes you appreciate everything,” Sampson had mentioned. Ditshaba, despite having lost both his legs and right arm (due to a bacterial infection), managed to break South African U17 100m and 200m records.

“He has a genuine spirit, and I try to keep that with me,” Sampson mentioned. It’s beautiful to watch this bond unfold. See, Sampson has become the Vols’ new underdog. As we mentioned before, this dude made quite the plays for Tennessee.

Take the Bama game as an example. Yes, we will agree that Alabama was not quite in the right mindset. However, you cannot let that discredit the fact that Sampson managed to grab 2 touchdowns. That too against a team that had taken down one of the best comps out there (Bulldogs and Kirby Smart).

It’s heartbreaking to watch Mel Kiper not put Sampson on his Top 10 RB list. But it looks like this dude is going to get a massive shot at proving his haters wrong and earning his spot on that list. See, the Vols are going to go up against the Bulldogs and this game will kind of determine who deserves a spot on the playoff list.

Vols vs Bulldogs

Here is the thing. Kirby Smart barely has a shot at winning this, but it does not mean that it will be an easy will for the Vols. See, this is a home and the Bulldogs have their backs against the wall. Coming off of that loss against Ole Miss, the Dawgs playoff chances have taken a massive hit. Lane Kiffin managed to hold back one of the best teams out there to only 10 points while taking away a 28-point win.

Now, how does this translate to the Vols vs Dawgs game? Well, Georgia CANNOT run the football at all. Carson Beck has been a mess with his throws and overall presence and the Dawgs run game has been abysmal. As long as Nico Lamaleava is in the right shape and makes the right plays, nothing can stop the Vols from winning this.

See, Tennessee already has an elite defense. Pair that up with what Sampson is doing on the offense, there is not a lot the Dawgs D-line can do. Still, you never know how it’s going to turn around. This is another road game for the Vols and the last time they were in one, they lost (vs Arkansas at 19-14).