College GameDay spotlights Dylan Sampson's trip to South Africa, special bond with triple-amputee
College GameDay is in Athens for a showdown between No. 7 Tennessee and No. 12 Georgia. Ahead of the much-anticipated SEC showdown, GameDay aired a feature on Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson.
Sampson is one of the leading rushers in college football and has arguably been Tennessee’s best player. This summer, Sampson was one of 34 student-athletes who took a trip to Botswana and South Africa to encourage social change through sports.
The star RB met with a 13-year-old triple-amputee named Simphiwe Ditshaba who showed Sampson the “true meaning of perspective and perseverance.”
This summer, Tennessee’s Dylan Sampson took a trip to South Africa where he learned the true meaning of perspective and perseverance from 13-year-old triple-amputee Simphiwe Ditshaba
(via @MartySmithESPN) pic.twitter.com/spXEi22hkL
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) November 16, 2024
Ditshaba contracted a bacterial infection that led to both of his legs, his right arm, and several fingers on his left hand being amputated.
“It’s just something about his story, he never let it get to him,” said Sampson. “He always loved sports. Just to see someone with that vibrant energy and that much passion, it makes you appreciate everything.”
Sampson has rushed 201 times for 1,129 yards and 20 TDs in 2024. The RB owns the Tennessee record for rushing TDs in a season and is 3rd in school history in career rushing TDs.
Sampson and the other athletes played a football game with Ditshaba and the other children. Ditshaba took the handoff from Sampson and scored the game-winning TD. Sampson instructed Ditshaba to spike the ball and called the youngster the undisputed champ.
“Just as much as he likes to succeed, he likes to see other people happy,” Sampson explained.
What I can’t understand is how seemingly decent people end up in Knoxville. SMDH.
lol. I know that’s gotta be a joke. Knoxville is a very nice place to live.
Yeah I’m from Chattanooga. Love it up there. Just poking.
Maybe the person Sampson visited can play on our defensive line because they played like fcking triple amputees tonight