Omarion Hampton NFL Draft 2025: Scouting Report RB UNC

Omarion Hampton‘s NFL Draft stock is on the rise. Judkins is a physical and powerful running back from the University of North Carolina. Continue reading to explore his strengths, areas for improvement, and stats from college football at UNC. Additionally, you can check out his 2025 NFL Draft grade. Depending on his landing spot, his dynasty league football outlook is a bit unclear, but he likely becomes an early contributor to an RB-needy team.

Omarion Hampton 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Omarion Hampton, a native of Clayton, North Carolina, emerged as a standout talent at Cleveland High School, where he racked up over 5,300 rushing yards and 88 touchdowns across his prep career. A four-star recruit, he chose to stay in-state with the Tar Heels, turning down offers from elite programs like Ohio State and Michigan. After a promising freshman year in 2022, Hampton exploded onto the national scene as a sophomore in 2023, earning First-Team All-American honors from Walter Camp with 1,504 yards and 15 touchdowns. His junior campaign in 2024 solidified his status as one of college football’s premier backs, finishing with 1,660 yards and 15 scores on 281 carries, plus 373 receiving yards on 38 catches. At 22, Hampton enters the 2025 NFL Draft as a polished, high-volume runner with a rare blend of power, burst, and versatility.

Hampton boasts a prototypical NFL running back frame at 6’0” and 220 pounds. His dense, muscular build is complemented by a low center of gravity, enabling him to absorb contact and maintain balance. At the NFL Combine, he reportedly clocked a 4.46-second 40-yard dash, showcasing impressive speed for his size and a 1.54-second 10-yard split that highlights his explosive get-off. His broad jump and vertical leap numbers suggest a 96th-percentile explosion profile, reinforcing his ability to accelerate quickly and power through defenders.

HT: 5116
WT: 221
HAND: 938
ARM: 3048
40: 4.46

Strengths

• Contact Balance and Power: Hampton’s defining trait is his ability to shrug off initial contact and keep his legs churning. He consistently falls forward, often dragging tacklers for an extra 2 to 3 yards. His lower-body strength and core stability make him a nightmare in short-yardage and goal-line situations.
• Burst and Acceleration: Despite lacking elite top-end speed, Hampton’s short-area burst is exceptional. He hits holes decisively, exploding through creases and reaching the second level in a flash. His ability to convert speed to power amplifies his effectiveness as a downhill runner.
• Vision and Patience: Hampton displays above-average field vision, reading blocks, and defensive alignments with a calm, calculated approach. He’s patient enough to let plays develop but quick to commit once a lane opens, making him a natural fit for both gap and zone schemes.
• Pass-Game Versatility: A reliable outlet as a receiver, Hampton caught 73 passes across three seasons, showing soft hands and an ability to adjust to off-target throws. His route tree is limited mostly to swings and screens, but he’s a willing and effective pass protector, rarely allowing pressures when tasked with blitz pickup.
• Durability and Workload Capacity: With over 620 carries in college, Hampton has proven he can handle a bell-cow role. His physical running style hasn’t led to significant injury concerns, suggesting he can shoulder a heavy load at the next level.

Areas for Improvement

• Top-End Speed: While his 4.46 40-time is solid, Hampton doesn’t possess the breakaway gear to turn short gains into 60-yard house calls. Once he’s in the open field, faster defensive backs can close the gap.
• Pass Protection Technique: Though willing and physically capable, Hampton’s hand placement and punch timing in pass protection need refinement. He occasionally sets his base too wide, allowing savvy rushers to push him back or slip past.
• Vision Inconsistencies: Hampton can sometimes be overly eager, pressing the line before blocks fully develop. This leads to missed opportunities for bigger gains, especially when alternative lanes emerge late.
• Potential Wear and Tear Concerns: His high carry count and physical style raise questions about long-term durability. While he’s avoided major injuries, the NFL’s physicality could test his body over a 17-game season.

Conclusion

Hampton thrives as a north-south runner, excelling in downhill gap schemes where he can square his shoulders and bulldoze through contact. His 2024 tape against Florida State showcased his dominance as he powered through stacked boxes for multiple scores, finishing with five touchdowns in a single game. Against Duke, he flashed his receiving chops, turning a swing pass into a 50-yard gain with a quick burst and stiff arm. His ability to finish runs is a major plus—over 2,200 of his 3,565 career rushing yards came after contact, a testament to his toughness and leg drive. However, his lack of overall lateral explosiveness was evident against quicker defenses like NC State, where he struggled to bounce runs outside when the interior clogged up.

Hampton profiles as a Day 1 starter with the potential to become a Pro Bowl-caliber lead back. His size, power, and burst combination make him an ideal fit for teams running gap-heavy or inside-zone schemes—think the Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, or Kansas City Chiefs. He’s not a home-run hitter like a Jahmyr Gibbs, but he’s a tone-setter who can wear down defenses and keep the chains moving. With some coaching to refine his pass-blocking technique and expand his route tree, Hampton could evolve into a true three-down threat. His floor is a high-volume RB1 in a committee, while his ceiling is a 1,200-yard, 10-touchdown workhorse.

Like Joe Mixon, Hampton blends power, burst, and receiving ability with a rugged, physical style. Both lack elite elusiveness but excel at punishing defenders and finishing runs. Hampton’s slightly better pass-protection skills give him an edge as a prospect, though he’ll need to match Mixon’s consistency at the pro level.

Round Grade: Mid 1st-Early 2nd Round

Stats: Per Sports Reference

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