Overview

Position: RB

College: Tennessee

Class: Junior

Age: 20

 

Measurables

Height: 5’8 1/8”

Weight: 200 lbs.

Arm length: 30 1/2″

Hand size: 8 3/4″

 

Athletic testing

40-yard dash: N/A

10-yard split: N/A

Vertical jump: 35.0”

Broad jump: 124.0”

Bench press: 13 reps

3-cone drill: N/A

Short shuttle: N/A

 

Strengths

Great feet and quickness. Very tough inside runner at his size. Outstanding contact balance. Runs low and with physicality. Very impressive strength at his size. Extremely instinctive overall runner. Will find a small crease and burst through it. Very quick juke cut in the hole. Quick skipping through the line of scrimmage and into the open field. Terrific juke move on the second level to get into open space. Spins and rips through arm tackles. Spin moves are quick and instinctive. Natural feel to maximize yardage while trying to avoid tackles. Strong to withstand the first tackle attempt. Outstanding determination to power forward in traffic. Rare determination for a smaller back. Great ability to evade backfield penetration. Compact and powerful stiff that that can shed defensive linemen. Excellent acceleration on outside runs. Makes very quick downhill cuts off the back of his blockers. Smooth and patient runner in the open field. Tremendous feet to keep balance when being contacted by low tackle attempts. Very good speed in the open field. Usually ran out of the shotgun but was effective and showed power as a goal-line runner in heavy personnel. Immediately gets downhill and accelerates into traffic as a short-yardage runner. Skillset to be a weapon in the screen game. Brings upside as a route runner and receiver. Has lined up in the slot. Terrific vision and awareness as a pass blocker. Moves his feet extremely well and gets in front of defenders in pass protection. Very good protecting up the middle. Picks up interior defensive linemen in pass protection.

 

Weaknesses

General pacing and vision can be more consistent. Could be more decisive at times on shotgun power runs to avoid getting tackled by backside defenders. Might not be able to capture the edge versus more athletic and aggressive linebackers. Lacked involvement as a pass-catcher considering his skillset in a unique spread attack. Hands are inconsistent on low passes.

 

NFL comparison

Bucky Irving

 

Conclusion

Overall, Sampson is a quick, tough runner with tremendous instincts and impressive determination at his size. He will ideally have an expanded role in the passing game, and Sampson could also benefit from more varied usage on the ground in an NFL offense.

 

Big Board ranking: #57 | Positional ranking: #8