Omarion Hampton meets with historic NFL team, former UNC football player at NFL Combine
Omarion Hampton meets with historic NFL team, former UNC football player at NFL Combine Will a UNC football connection land Omarion Hampton in the Windy City?
Hundreds of pro football hopefuls are currently at the NFL Combine, showcasing their skills in front of numerous executives and coaches, hoping to get a shot at living out their childhood dreams.
One of those NFL hopefuls hits a little closer to home: running back Omarion Hampton, arguably the best recent back in UNC football history.
Hampton started 2023 on the depth chart behind British Brooks, then overtook him after his first career 200-yard performance, which came against App State. Hampton ended 2023 with 1,504 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns, then followed that breakout campaign with a 1,660-yard, 15 touchdown campaign in 2024.
We don't know which team will be lucky enough yet to choose Hampton in April's NFL Draft, but we do know at least one team that Hampton met with.
On Friday, February 28, Windy City Gridiron's Khari D. Thompson reported that Hampton met with the Chicago Bears, who have a brand-new head coach in former Tar Heel walk-on Ben Johnson.
Chicago currently has former Georgia Bulldog D'Andre Swift leading its backfield, but the depth behind Swift thins in extensive experience with Roschon Johnson, Travis Homer and Darrynton Evans.
Hampton is the type of running back NFL teams should covet, as Hampton exudes a calm confidence, can shake off multiple tacklers with his low center of gravity, plus can leave opposing defenses in the dust with his top-rank speed.
Running backs are very disposable in the NFL – unless they produce consistently from day one. Hampton hasn't taken an professional snap yet, but with how much he produced at North Carolina over the past two seasons, I can see a long NFL for the kid from Clayton.
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