UPDATE: Dylan Sampson is back on the field for the second half to start out with the Vols, getting the bulk of the workload for the Tennessee ground game.
The play for the Tennessee Volunteers against the Kentucky Wildcats in the first half has been totally unacceptable. On both sides of the ball, mistakes have been made and two missed field goals on special teams has made things worse. Josh Heupel is losing patience with his team.
That much was made clear when he was livid with Dylan Sampson, his best offensive player, following a costly fumble. Just how mad was Heupel with his star running back? Following the turnover, Sampson wasn't on the field until there was 30 seconds left in the second quarter:
That's right, Heupel seemingly benched his standout playmaker for nearly the rest of the first half. With Sampson not on the field, it opened the door for Peyton Lewis to get more work, which included him scoring on a one-yard touchdown. Still, the fact that Sampson wasn't in action for so long following his fumble is quite eye-opening.
Josh Heupel makes some of the most odd, strange decisions I’ve ever seen with personnel. Dylan Sampson is literally the best player on the football team, and he’s got an 18-year old toting it in goal line. What’s this guys deal?
— 4TH AND TRUTH (@4thAndTruth) November 3, 2024
Dylan Sampson was benched in the first half following a costly fumble
This is a clear message for Sampson, who has posted fumbles in back-to-back games. It has been frustrating to see, but let's not forget that Sampson is a one-of-a-kind running back. Vols fans weren't too thrilled that he was penalized so much for his turnover, but the hope is things change big time in the second half.
As of this writing, the Vols have entered the locker room at halftime down 10-7. This is a shocking result thus far and in order for Tennessee to get going on offense, there's no question the running game needs to get going. That's where Sampson will come in.
Heupel is not happy with how things are looking, as Kentucky is poised to post an upset. A lot has to change in the final 30 minutes of action, otherwise Tennessee will see its College Football Playoff dreams come to a close sooner than anyone could have imagined.