What Cameron Seldon Can Prove In Citrus Bowl

Tennessee Volunteers running back Cameron Seldon will get an extended run against Iowa in the Citrus Bowl. What does he have to prove in his first extended action?

Tennessee had one of the best rushing attacks in college football this season, powered by a strong run scheme and impressive performances from a talented backfield. Running backs Jaylen Wright and Jabari Small assumed the top two roles for the Vols, with Dylan Sampson seeing extended run in multiple games.

Wright and Small opted out of the Citrus Bowl, opting to focus on their next endeavors. Sampson will assume the lead-back duties against Iowa, and fans should have a lot of confidence in what he can do. Sampson has seen several big workloads over the past two seasons with the team and has produced in those opportunities. However, we will get our first extended look at true freshman running back Cameron Seldon, a 2023 signee who appeared in all 12 contests this season, primarily on special teams.

Seldon only has twelve carries to his name thus far but is one of the more electric young players on their offense. He was the No. 134 prospect in the 2023 cycle, according to 247Sports Composite Rankings. The talented back hails from Heathsville, Virginia, and scored 16 touchdowns during his senior season. His high school tape was quite impressive, but there was some question about how his game would immediately translate to college.

It quickly became apparent that his speed and athleticism would translate to the college game. He's put on about 15 pounds of muscle since arriving in Knoxville, Tennessee, something that was apparent during his impressive showing in the spring game. Seldon broke several long runs that excited fans and sparked thoughts about what their running back room will look like in the long-term future.

The Vols prefer to run a multi-back system that allows them to keep up their prolific pace. Sampson and Seldon project as their top two backs next season, and Seldon can use the Citrus Bowl against Iowa as a springboard to legitimate action next season. That begs the question: what should we be paying attention to when Seldon inevitably sees the field on Monday afternoon?

The biggest key for me is seeing Seldon carry a strong workload against one of America's top defenses. The Hawkeyes are top-5 in most major statical categories on the defensive side of the football, and while Seldon put up staggering numbers and impressive tape in high school, he hasn't seen a lot of carries against a defense like this before. The physicality and toll of a four-quarter football game would be tough for any young running back, but there's reason to think Seldon is up for the challenge.

True freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava will get the starting nod after quarterback Joe Milton III opted out of the Citrus Bowl to prepare for the NFL Draft. Iamaleava will need all the help he can get from his running game, and Sampson will need someone to spell him. The offense is going to rely on Seldon a lot on Monday, and we'll see if he's up for the challenge.

Tennessee Volunteers RB Cameron Seldon celebrating with TE Ethan Davis during the spring game. (Photo by Caitie McMekin of the News Sentinel)

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