Chargers pick UNC running back Omarion Hampton No. 22 in NFL Draft (2025)

Omarion Hampton left North Carolina early to enter the 2025 NFL Draft, ready to test himself at the highest level of football.

Hampton has passed every other test. The Clayton native starred at Cleveland High, becoming one of the nation’s best prep running backs. At UNC, the 6-foot, 221-pound back twice was a 1,000-yard rusher, piling up 3,164 yards and 30 rushing touchdowns in his sophomore and junior seasons with the Tar Heels while averaging 5.9 yards a carry.

Ashton Jeanty of Boise State was rated the best running back in the draft and was taken No. 6 by the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday.

Hampton was considered by many observers as the next-best choice with his ability to run, catch and pass protect, and was taken by the Los Angeles Chargers with the No. 22 selection.

Hampton is third UNC running back taken in the first round, and first since Don McCauley was taken No. 22 by the Baltimore Colts in 1971. Ken Willard was selected second overall by the San Francisco 49ers in 1965.

Hampton was not at the draft in Green Bay, preferring to stay home and share the moment with family, friends and some football folks who have helped him along the way.

Although he has a quiet demeanor about him and can be a man of few words, Hampton’s play on the field is high volume. He not only could take the hits but deliver big ones of his own, often bouncing off defenders for sizable yardage after contact — more than 2,300 yards in the past two seasons.

Hampton, who wore No. 28 at UNC and called “Big O” by his teammates, was a first-team All-ACC selection in 2023 and 2024, earning All-America notice in both seasons.

He had 1,504 yards as a sophomore in 2023, fifth best in the FBS, while scoring 15 rushing touchdowns.

In a play against Georgia Tech as a sophomore, Hampton left his teammates all but speechless with one jaw-breaking touchdown run. Hit behind the line of scrimmage and wrapped up by a defensive tackle, he turned a tackle-for-a-loss into a TD as he bulled his way 17 yards to the end zone.

Hampton said in preseason that his goal for 2024 was a 2,000-yard rushing year. He ended with 1,660 yards, third nationally in the FBS, and another 15 scores.

The Tar Heels finished 6-7 this past season as Mack Brown’s second tenure as UNC’s coach came to an end. He had 185 yards rushing against N.C. State in the last game of the regular season and his final game at Kenan Stadium, scoring on a 47-yard shovel pass late in UNC’s 35-30 loss. He then opted out of the Heels’ Fenway Bowl appearance.

Hampton ran the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine in 4.46 seconds, which was tied for the 12th fastest — Bhayshul Tuten of Virginia Tech led the way at 4.36 seconds. Hampton had a 38-inch vertical jump and did 18 bench-press reps of 225 pounds, which tied for fourth.

Jeanty did not participate in the on-field drills or physical testing at the combine. The nation’s top rusher in 2024 with 2,601 yards, he went through medical screening and did team interviews.

In an interview with Chris Simms and Ahmed Fareed of NBC Sports, Hampton said he has enjoyed the draft process and the dealing with teams and team personnel.

“It’s like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” he said. “I’m just keeping my head down. Whichever team picks me, I’ll be happy.”

Hampton, in the interview, did note he was a Baltimore Ravens fan as a kid.

Simms, who played college football at Texas for Brown and later was in the NFL, said Hampton reminded him of Joe Mixon of the Houston Texans. Hampton did not disagree, saying he has watched Mixon closely and “loved” Mixon’s running style.

Mixon, who is Hampton’s size at 6-1 and 220 pounds, had had five 1,000-yard rushing seasons in the NFL during his career.

This story was originally published April 24, 2025 at 10:41 PM.