Omarion Hampton was unstoppable last night!
Last night’s win over App State was due in large part to the effort of sophomore running back Omarion Hampton. All night, he was physical and bounced off of contact. In a way, he looked like Javonte Williams during his time at UNC. Hampton broke off multiple timely big runs to keep North Carolina close or give them the lead. This was one of the better games we’ve seen from a North Carolina running back in some time!
Statline
Hampton ran the ball 26 times for 234 yards and three touchdowns. He also caught a pass for 10 yards. Hampton averaged nine yards on those 26 carries, shedding defenders on his way. His first touchdown was a 68-yard run where he took contact and kept going. The second touchdown was a physical effort where he was surrounded by Mountaineer defenders, but he kept his feet moving, and his teammates helped drag him into the endzone. Hampton’s final touchdown was a 17-yard run in overtime to help tie the game. Even on Drake Maye’s final touchdown, the play was an option, and the defense keyed in on Hampton, leaving Maye a wide open lane to score.
Breakout Game?
During his freshman season, Hampton showed a lot of promise. There was clearly talent shown, and his coaches trusted him early in the season to get a lot of touches. Unfortunately, he began fumbling the ball a bit, which saw his time on the field decrease. Now in his second year, Hampton was named a starter alongside British Brooks. He was solid in the opener against South Carolina and just dominated App State. Was this the game that showed what we can expect in the future? It just may be, but he can further prove how good he is when Minnesota comes to town next Saturday.
Hampton may be the lead back for the rest of the year after that game.
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