PHILADELPHIA – The Maxwell Football Club announced Thursday that Tennessee football running back Dylan Sampson has been added to the mid-season watch list for the 88th Maxwell Award, presented annually to the most outstanding player in college football.
Established in 1937, the Maxwell Award is one of the most prestigious honors in college football. It is presented annually to the most outstanding player in the sport, recognizing excellence on the field and exceptional contributions to the game. The award is named in honor of Robert “Tiny” Maxwell, a distinguished sportswriter and influential figure in college football.
After a remarkable six-game stretch to begin the 2024 season, Sampson was one of 17 FBS players added to the Maxwell Award watch list by the selection committee. The junior from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, leads the SEC in rushing touchdowns (15), rushing yards (699), and scoring (15.0 points per game).
Following his gritty three-touchdown effort in Tennessee’s 23-17 overtime victory over Florida, Sampson sits fourth in Tennessee history for both single-season (15) and career (28) rushing scores. He reached these milestones in only 20 quarters this season, as he did not play in the second half against Chattanooga or Kent State.
Sampson owns nine career 100-yard rushing games, including five out of the first six games this season. He was eight yards shy of hitting the mark at Oklahoma on Sept. 21. His nine career 100-yard games are tied with Tauren Poole (2008-11) and Arian Foster (2005-08) for the 10th most in Tennessee history.
Sampson has registered multi-touchdown rushing games in five out of his last six contests, and he has scored at least one touchdown in six straight games. The last Tennessee player with a rushing touchdown in six straight contests was Montario Hardesty, who did so in the opening six games of the 2009 season.
Semifinalists for the Maxwell Award will be announced Nov. 12, 2024, while the three finalists for the Maxwell Award will be unveiled Nov. 26, 2024. The winner of the 88th Maxwell Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on Dec. 12, 2024. The formal presentation of the Maxwell Award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards on Friday, March 14, 2025 at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.
The Maxwell Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses college football’s most prestigious awards. The NCFAA’s 25 awards have honored more than 900 recipients since 1935.
2024 Maxwell Award Watch List Additions – Oct. 17
Ryan Williams, Alabama (WR)
Cam Skattebo, Arizona State (RB)
Bryson Daily, Army (QB)
Luke Altmyer, Illinois (QB)
Kurtis Rourke, Indiana (QB)
Kaleb Johnson, Iowa (RB)
Alonza Barnett III, James Madison (QB)
Tre Harris, Mississippi (WR)
Blake Horvath, Navy (QB)
Chandler Morris, North Texas (QB)
Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State (WR)
Desmond Reid, Pittsburgh (RB)
Kyle McCord, Syracuse (QB)
Dylan Sampson, Tennessee (RB)
Le’Veon Moss, Texas A&M (RB)
Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt (QB)
John Mateer, Washington State (QB)
