Last season, the North Carolina Tar Heels continued to show the college football world why they have one of the sport’s premier offenses.
The main reason for UNC’s strong offensive production, even in its disappointing losses, was a breakout season from running back Omarion Hampton. North Carolina’s junior back started 2023 on the depth chart behind now-Houston Texan British Brooks, but a career performance against App State in Week 2 all but changed that.
With Drake Maye and Devontez Walker gone to the NFL, Hampton is poised for an even larger role this fall.
In ESPN’s rankings of the current Top 100 college football players – ahead of the 2024 season – Hampton rings in at 27th.
“Hampton came in as a highly touted freshman in 2022, but really emerged as the feature back last year – rushing for 1,504 yards and 15 touchdowns, while adding 29 receptions for 222 yards and a touchdown – as a Doak Walker Award finalist,” ESPN’s rankings said about Hampton. “His rushing yards total ranks second on the school’s single-season list.”
Hampton, who is now eligible for the 2025 NFL Draft this year, burst onto the scene with a 234-yard, 3-touchdown performance in North Carolina’s double-overtime victory over App State last year. Hampton’s best streak of 2023 spanned from mid-October to mid-November, when he rushed for 100 yards in six consecutive games.
Will Hampton continue to improve and not just be amongst the top 2024 backs in college football, but the best back in college football?
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