In popular perception, Tennessee’s offensive attack relies on air raid passing concepts to create explosive plays. In past years under head coach Josh Heupel, that’s been closer to the truth, but in 2024, heading into a matchup with Alabama football, it’s not the case.

The Volunteer offense is built on the run game this season, still spreading out across the field, but to the benefit of running back Dylan Sampson. On Saturday, that’s the first thing the Crimson Tide will need to stop in order to earn revenge for its last trip to Knoxville.

“The guy is a really good football player,” Alabama defensive line coach Freddie Roach told reporters Wednesday. “Obviously scored a lot of touchdowns. He’s got good balance and body control. He’s got a burst that can finish long runs.

“He’s hard to bring to the ground. We have to do our job as far as fitting gaps, and when we have an opportunity to wrap him up, wrap him up and bring him to the ground.”

Sampson ranks second in the nation in touchdowns so far this season with 15, three behind Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty. The 5-foot-11, 201-pound junior from Baton Rouge has rushed for 701 yards so far.

Alabama outside linebackers coach Christian Robinson spoke of how Sampson can torch a defense if it isn’t careful to stop him.

“They got a big O-line and he’s a little bit shorter,” Robinson said. “And that’s, I think, and advantage for them, is he can hide behind and be patient. He’s also really hard to get down. You can’t sling him down, he can spin out of tackles.”

Sampson represented nearly all of Tennessee’s offensive production last time out against Florida. He scored three touchdowns in the 23-17 win in Knoxville, and went for 112 yards on the ground.

Meanwhile, Alabama’s rush defense has been struggling. The Crimson Tide has surrendered 775 yards on the ground to opponents this season, 129.17 per game, which ranks 14th out of the SEC’s 16 teams.

UA knows Sampson is a major key to stopping the Volunteers. However, it can’t full sell out to stop him, as UT remains capable of making the big plays down the field, led by freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava.

“A lot of times, there’s two plays going on,” Robinson said. “Perimeter and the core. We always start about, start inside out, and make them make those long throws. And he’s a great quarterback that can make all those, but if we can make them go east-west and obviously, play everything in front of us as best we can, and make the game slow down, I think that’s something that they want, to go fast-paced.

“Got a lot of great players and so, it starts inside out and up front, and that’s what’s going to cause us to be successful.”

Alabama and Tennessee are scheduled to kick off at 2:45 p.m. CT Saturday at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville. The game will be aired on ABC.