Offensive line, typically a strength for the North Carolina Tar Heels‘ football program in past years, is a glaring weakness in 2024.
UNC has rotated through an inexperienced offensive line through seven games – not due to struggles, but numerous injuries. North Carolina has three underclassmen starting on its offensive line: Aidan Banfield, Howard Sampson and Treyvon Green. The Tar Heels have Georgia transfer Austin Blaske starting at center, but despite being a graduate student, Blaske is a first-year starter this season.
There’s one guy, right guard Willie Lampkin, who is proving to be a much-needed consistent presence on North Carolina’s offensive line.
Just past the halfway point of UNC’s 2024 campaign, Lampkin was recently named a Sporting News Midseason All-American.
Lampkin is just one of three ACC football players on the list, alongside Heisman Trophy favorite Cam Ward, the Miami (FL) quarterback and Desmond Reid, Pitt’s running back who torched the Tar Heels for over 200 scrimmage yards and a touchdown two weeks ago.
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Lampkin is also the lone ACC lineman on Sporting News’ Midseason All-American list. Other lineman include Texas‘ Kelvin Banks Jr., Army’s Paolo Gennarelli, Ohio State’s Seth McLaughlin and LSU‘s Will Campbell.
Lampkin spent the first three seasons of his college career at Coastal Carolina, starting 38 consecutive games for the Chanticleers and being named the Sun Belt Conference’s 2022 Offensive Lineman of the Year. Lampkin then started all 11 games he appeared in for UNC in 2023, earning Third Team All-ACC honors.
Will Lampkin join former Tar Heels Joshua Ezeudu, Charlie Heck and Asim Richard in the NFL next year?
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