2025 NFL Draft Profile: North Carolina RB Omarion Hampton

The Bengals may not be in the market for a back early in the draft, but if he’s available later than most think, a guy.

When it comes to the second round, the Cincinnati Bengals have a track record not only of drafting running backs on whom they rely heavily but also of netting productive players. Ickey Woods, Harold Green, Corey Dillon, Kenny Irons, Giovani Bernard, and Joe Mixon were all picks made in this round, with varying degrees of success.

The Bengals are looking for a back to complement Chase Brown, who had a solid 2024 campaign, and the prevailing thought is that they will wait until the later rounds of the draft to address that need. Still, given their penchant for grabbing players with immense talent in the second round, they may be inclined to pounce on a BPA.

The idea of taking a back early in the draft isn’t an indictment of Brown, by any means, but rather an implementation of past Bengals strategies and a recognition of past successes. With uncertainty surrounding Zack Moss after his gruesome neck injury, Cincinnati will likely need a bigger, capable back for the coming year.

Enter North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton, who has an impressive resume and has drawn comparisons to Mixon. Looking back to 2023, there were flashes of the Mixon/Brown duo being effective, and Cincinnati could look to recreate that this spring.

Omarion Hampton

• Height: 5’11 1/2”
• Weight: 221
• Age: 22
• Year: Junior
• School: North Carolina
• Hometown: Forest City, North Carolina
• 40-Yard Dash: 4.48
• RAS:

Background

Hampton was a four-star recruit in the 2022 class, coming off winning North Carolina Football Player of the Year during his senior year of high school. He immediately saw starting time at UNC, taking over as the full-time starter in 2023.

He amassed 3,164 rushing yards, 30 rushing touchdowns, along with 67 receptions for 595 yards and three receiving touchdowns over the past two seasons. This earned him First-Team All-ACC and First-Team All-American honors in 2023-2024.

As mentioned earlier, his running style and size have drawn comparisons to Le’Veon Bell and Mixon. Given his production and tape, Hampton is projected to be a fringe first-round to early second-round pick in this year’s class.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Some comparisons of Hampton have him resembling Mixon (his wearing of jersey No. 28 with the Tar Heels also helps), and there are also some Le’Veon Bell-esque qualities on film. He shows patience at the line, waiting for the crease, often leading to explosive plays.

Unlike Mixon, however, Hampton doesn’t always run so upright, which comes with both pros and cons. Still, he is frequently seen breaking tackles, particularly escaping arm wrap-up attempts around his feet and breaking off big plays.

His RAS profile shows he is a high-end athlete, and his sub-4.5 40-yard dash time is impressive for someone weighing 221 pounds. On film, his long speed looks good but not elite, as he is occasionally seen getting chased down on big plays.

The shuttle time noted on the RAS is concerning, but as a bigger back, that can sometimes come with the territory. Hampton is also an effective receiver, often breaking off big gains on screens and shovel passes. However, his route tree wasn’t overly expansive at UNC, though he can contribute in multiple ways, to be sure.

Outlook

Hampton is a consensus top-five back in this class, with many pundits ranking him at No. 2 behind Ashton Jeanty. While it’s hard to predict exactly where he’ll land, No. 49 seems like a long shot. Still, stranger things have happened in past drafts.

The Bengals choosing a running back early may not sit well with everyone, but a backfield featuring Hampton alongside Brown would be a formidable duo—particularly now that Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are signed long-term. It also offers flexibility, with some formations utilizing Hampton in the backfield while Brown splits out in the slot to confuse defenses.

PFF has some small worries that Hampton could be “a boom-or-bust prospect, depending on his offensive line,” but the talent is undeniable. We’ll see when he is available and if the Bengals get tempted by his abilities.

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