We proceed our 2025 NFL Draft preview of draft prospects that would curiosity the Dallas Cowboys. At this time we’re taking a look at working again Omarion Hampton from North Carolina
Omarion Hampton
RBNorth Carolina Tar HeelsJunior4-star recruit 6’0”220 lbs
Picture by Grant Halverson/Getty Photos
Historical past:
Omarion Hampton was born on March 16, 2003, in Forest Metropolis, North Carolina. He was a three-sport athlete in highschool (soccer, basketball, and monitor), and he comes from a household with athletic ties—his brother Jamal performed cornerback at Chowan College, and his cousin Giorgio Lowrance was a large receiver at North Carolina A&T.
He moved to Clayton, North Carolina, throughout center college and his soccer journey started at Cleveland Excessive Faculty, the place he performed from 2018 to 2021 and established himself as a standout expertise. As a sophomore in 2019, Hampton rushed for two,402 yards and 35 touchdowns, marking him as one of many prime highschool working backs within the nation. Regardless of an injury-shortened junior yr in 2021, he rebounded as a senior, dashing for 1,949 yards and 39 touchdowns, averaging 12.1 yards per carry. His senior efficiency earned him accolades as North Carolina’s Participant of the Yr. A four-star recruit, Hampton selected to remain in his dwelling state, committing to the College of North Carolina over provides from powerhouse applications like Ohio State, Michigan, and Penn State.
Hampton rapidly made an affect as a real freshman in 2022. In his collegiate debut towards Florida A&M, he rushed for 101 yards and two touchdowns, changing into the primary Tar Heel freshman since 1946 to hurry for over 100 yards in a single recreation. He completed his freshman season with 401 dashing yards and 6 touchdowns throughout 13 video games.
His sophomore yr in 2023 noticed him tackle a full-time beginning position, dashing for 1,504 yards and 15 touchdowns on 253 carries, incomes First-Staff All-ACC honors, a Doak Walker Award finalist nod, and First-Staff All-America nomination.
In 2024, as a junior, Hampton continued his dominance, amassing 1,660 dashing yards and 15 touchdowns, ending sixth nationally in dashing yards per recreation and recording six straight 100-yard video games, a feat not achieved by a Tar Heel since 1970. Over three seasons, he collected 3,565 profession dashing yards, putting him fourth all-time at UNC, and 36 whole touchdowns.
2024 Statistics
686 Offensive Snaps281 Rush Makes an attempt 1,660 Rush Yards5.9 YPC17 Complete TDs38 Receptions 373 Receiving Yards 1 Fumble81 First Downs73 Missed Tackles Forced0 Penalties
NFL Mix/Professional Day
TBC
Awards
All-America (2024)First-Staff All-ACC (2024)All-America (2023)First-Staff All-ACC (2023)
Scorecard
Total- 87.9Speed- 87Acceleration- 86Agility- 79Strength- 82Contact Stability- 92Vision- 81Elusiveness- 81Receiving- 77Blocking- 56Discipline- 99
THE GOOD
Hampton thrives in power-based schemes. His 220-pound body permits him to soak up contact and persistently achieve yards after preliminary hit, usually dragging defenders for additional yardage.
Has improbable contact steadiness in all ranges of the sector.
Demonstrates distinctive stamina, with no important drop-off in efficiency late in video games.
Reveals good instincts find creases within the offensive line, significantly in hole energy schemes.
Explodes by holes in A- and B-gaps with decisiveness.
Reveals good energy working abilities and combines that with misleading pace.
His top-end pace is useful for an NFL again.
Hardly ever goes down on first contact because of his sturdy leg drive and low middle of gravity.
Excels at maintaining his toes shifting by visitors and falling ahead for additional yards.
THE BAD
Lacks endurance within the backfield. As quickly as he collects the ball he needs to from 0-60 right away relatively than letting his gaps develop.
His receiving abilities are underdeveloped.
Whereas highly effective, he lacks elite lateral quickness or juke strikes to evade defenders in open house. His agility is finest described as common within the open discipline.
His recreation is extra about working by than round opponents which raises considerations of sturdiness.
Blocking abilities are a piece in progress. He’s prepared however inconsistent in selecting up blitzes, usually counting on his measurement relatively than method, which may restrict his third-down snaps.
Hand placement and setting his base too vast usually sees him get pushed backward on blocks.
His model might not translate seamlessly to the fashionable day NFL playbook as he’s extra suited to gap-heavy offenses relatively than zone-stretch techniques.
THE FIT
Omarion Hampton initiatives because the classical, 1990’s model workhorse working again with potential to be extra of the fashionable kind three-down again within the NFL, offered he refines his pass-catching and blocking abilities. His measurement, energy, and relentless working model make him an excellent match for groups just like the to prioritize physicality of their floor recreation.
His restricted versatility may cap his draft inventory in a league trending towards multi-dimensional backs. Count on him to land within the Day 2 rounds, with an opportunity to climb larger if he checks effectively on the mix.
The Dallas Cowboys entered the 2024 season with a committee method at working again after letting Tony Pollard depart in free company. Ezekiel Elliott returned as a veteran presence, however his manufacturing was very lack-luster. Rico Dowdle emerged because the lead again, however his breakout manufacturing needed to wait till the again half of the season. Deuce Vaughn, a 2023 sixth-round choose, stays the change-of-pace choice, which suggests the Cowboys’ dashing assault is a obvious want for the 2025 offseason.
Hampton’s 220-pound body and downhill model matches the Cowboys’ want for an influence working again, the place he can exploit creases behind guards like Tyler Smith. Hampton’s confirmed he can deal with 20+ carries per recreation, addressing Dallas’s want for a bell-cow again to manage the tempo, one thing that was absent since Elliott’s prime. His skill to generate yards post-contact mitigates the necessity for pristine blocking.
Hampton would step in because the clear RB1 if Dallas drafted him. With the Cowboys probably selecting mid-round, Hampton’s spherical two projection matches their draft vary. In the event that they do snag him within the second spherical, he’d be an economical resolution to a urgent want with out over-investing at a devalued place. A far superior funding versus taking a first-round working again or taking Ashton Jeanty with the twelfth choose.
COMPARISON
James Conner, Arizona Cardinals
BTB GRADE
twenty first
CONSENSUS RANKING
41stConsensus rating primarily based on the typical rating from 90 main scoring providers, together with BTB)