During this year's 2025 NFL Draft, another Tar Heel entered the history of players who have joined the professional level. This time, it is running back Omarion Hampton, who the Los Angeles Chargers selected with the 22nd pick of the first round. His stellar season in college increased his stock, as Hampton was the only consistent source of offense for former head coach Mack Brown.
Max Johnson's leg injury forced him to the sidelines leaving Conner Harrell (now transferred to Charlotte) and Jacolby Criswell (at East Tennessee State now) battling for the QB1 spot. In the end, it was Criswell who earned the role, lining up in the backfield alongside Hampton.
Jim Harbaugh, now Hampton's head coach, sang high praise for the 22-year-old from Forest City. North Carolina on The Pat McAfee show:
"Omarion Hampton is humble and hungry..
He's really well put together and he looks NFL ready" ~ @CoachJim4UM #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/HO73fYPh63
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) June 9, 2025
"You know what I like about him the best? He's really put together. He is trained ... he looks NFL ready. I love how he hits a hole. I know that personality because I've seen it on tape from him."
Harbaugh has one Super Bowl appearance back in 2013 during his time as the Baltimore Raves head coach against his brother, John Harbaugh, who led the San Francisco 49ers. But it was the older brother who raised the coveted Vince Lombardi trophy, winning by a score of 34-31. Nevertheless, this shows that Jim knows what it takes to get far in the postseason.
Hampton finished his final season in a Carolina uniform with 1,660 yards on 281 carries (averaging 5.9 yards) and 15 touchdowns — his longest carry stretched to 75 yards. And on the receiving end, he made 38 receptions for 373 yards accumulating two touchdowns in that manner.
Although Hampton was not selected in the top 15 of the draft, he is still primed to have a great NFL career as a running back, and start out strong as a rookie — continuing his success that placed him in this position to begin with.