Heel Tough Blog: Omarion Hampton Selected By Chargers in First Round of the 2025 NFL Draft

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It may have taken a little bit of time, but for the first time since 2014, the Tar Heels have had a player go in the first round of back-to-back NFL Drafts.

With the 22nd pick in the 2025 NFL Draft on Thursday night, the Los Angeles Chargers selected former Tar Heel running back Omarion Hampton. Hampton becomes the 26th player in program history to be selected in the opening round of the NFL Draft and the seventh that was coached by Mack Brown. Even more special is the fact that he is just the fourth running to go in the first round (Ken Willard, Don McCauley and Ethan Horton) and the first since 1985.

If Hampton is to play, he will have a legitimate chance to break the program’s single-season rushing yards record which is currently held by the legendary Don McCauley (1,720). He has rushed for 1,660 yards and 15 touchdowns on 281 carries and caught 38 passes for 373 yards and two touchdowns in the first twelve games this season. This follows a sophomore season that ranked amongst the best in program history, as well, where he ran for 1,504 yards and 15 touchdowns and caught 29 passes for 222 yards and a touchdown. Hampton sits fourth in program history in career rushing yards (3,565) and tied for fourth in career rushing touchdowns (34).

In terms of fit, you couldn’t have picked a much better one. Jim Harbaugh is a guy who loves to lean on his ground game despite having a quarterback like Justin Herbert and with J.K. Dobbins gone, the team needs a new lead back. The team did bring in Najee Harris as a free agent this offseason and he may have to split carries with him early on, but with what he can do as a receiver he should still have a big role in this offense, he might be able to take over the bulk of the snaps as the season goes along. Under Harbaugh, there is a serious chance that Hampton could become one of the best running backs in the league.