Ever since overtaking British Brooks on the depth chart in 2023, North Carolina Tar Heels running back Omarion Hampton has done nothing but turn heads.
Hampton rushed for 234 yards against App State in a 40-34, double-overtime victory during Week 2 of the 2023 college football season. Now in November 2024, Hampton is thriving in his junior season: third amongst all FBS rushers with 1,475 yards, 14 touchdowns to lead the ACC and nine 100-yard games, including a pair of 200-yard outtings.
Hampton is one of the best running backs in college football – and he was recently recognized for that.
On Tuesday, Nov. 26, Hampton was named one of just three finalists for the Doak Walker Award – along with Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty and Iowa‘s Kaleb Johnson.
The Doak Walker Award is annually given to the nation’s best running back, a title Jeanty and Johnson can also make their cases for. Jeanty leads the FBS with 2,062 rushing yards and SHOULD be the Heisman Trophy winner, while Johnson has 21 rushing touchdowns and 1,492 rushing yards, which puts him second behind Jeanty and just above Hampton.
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Hampton climbed the UNC record books after his career-high, 244-yard performance against Wake Forest.
Hampton scored his 35th career touchdown against the Demon Deacons, moving into a tie with Marquise Williams for third all-time. Hampton also surpassed Kelvin Bryant for fifth-place on North Carolina’s career rushing yardage list, plus he is one of just three Tar Heels (Amos Lawrence, Mike Voight) with multiple 200-yard games.
I’d love to see Hampton win the Doak Walker Award, but it’s hard not to recognize Jeanty as the winner. Given that Hampton and Jeanty are both juniors, expect to see them face off in the NFL next fall.
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