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A battering ram out of North Carolina, Hampton would bring a physicality to Pittsburgh. But would he fit the team’s plans?
Approaching the 2025 NFL Draft, we’ll be scouting as many of the top prospects that the Pittsburgh Steelers could have their eye on anywhere from Rounds 1 through 7. We’ll break down the prospects themselves, strengths and weaknesses, projected draft capital and their fit with the Steelers.
When the Steelers declined to pick up the fifth-year option on Najee Harris last year, it became clear running back would be a position to watch for them in the 2025 draft. That’s even truer now. Jaylen Warren, third-down back Kenneth Gainwell and aging ex-wideout Cordarrelle Patterson do not make the most inspiring room for a team that seemingly has wanted to dedicate itself to a run-heavy, clock-grinding playstyle.
Fortunately, the 2025 running back class is shaping up to be one of the better groups in recent memory. It’s already drawing comparisons to the 2017 class, which had several noteworthy running backs, including former Steeler James Connor.
If the Steelers are looking for a back capable of being a bellcow, few prospects match that description quite as well as North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton.
The basics on Omarion Hampton
- Position: Running back
- Class: Junior
- Size: 6’0, 221 pounds, 30 1/2” arms, 9 3/8” hands
- Age: 22
- Projected draft round: Late 1st-Mid 2nd
- Pro Comparison: Jonathan Stewart
Combine Results & RAS Score
Omarion Hampton scouting report
A four-star recruit, Hampton chose to stay in his home state of North Carolina despite receiving offers from Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, LSU, Florida and several other Big 10 and SEC schools. After playing sparingly during his freshman season, Hampton cemented himself as a workhorse with over 250 carries and 1,500 rushing yards in both his sophomore and junior seasons.
Hampton looks the part and his tough running style is part of what makes him such an intriguing prospect.
AFC North fans will see Omarion Hampton moving the pile and dragging a platoon of defenders on his back and be like, "Hell yeah."
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— Ryan Parish (@RyanParishmedia)
April 1, 2025
It’s one thing to be a tough runner. The NFL has had plenty of plodding, big-bodied backs carve out a role for a season or two. But what makes Hampton special is the short area burst he possesses. Take these two runs against Florida State below. The first is just a standard first down run — and UNC’s line does a good job of giving Hampton a big hole to hit — but in the blink of an eye he’s accelerated for six yards to keep the Tar Heels ahead of the sticks. In the second clip, Florida State initially seems to have done a decent job of muddying up the running lanes for Hampton. However, he finds a crease and never slows down his feet, hitting a small hole before winding back, doing a mini-hurdle over a tackler diving at his feet. Again, note how quickly he gets upfield.
That burst holds up if Hampton gets to the second level untouched. There are plenty of long, highlight-reel worthy runs on his tape to go with his broken tackles. Once Hampton has built up a head of steam, he is difficult to catch from behind.
Hampton plays best in a gap scheme. He possesses some agility, but he isn’t as consistent moving laterally as he is getting downhill. If he has to slow his feet, he can struggle getting back up to the same speed he was at. While I question if Arthur Smith’s zone-heavy scheme would be the best fit for Hampton, it’s important to note that he isn’t incapable of getting outside.
In the passing game, Hampton wasn’t used too often as a blocker. While I did see a few reps in the games I watched, the vast majority of the time, he was either running a route or chipping and doing a late release. As a pass catcher, North Carolina mostly limited Hampton to screens and swing routes, but he was effective in those instances.
UNC didn't have him doing any complex routes, but Hampton showed he can be a weapon on swings and screens. UNC especially loved getting him the ball with delayed shovel passes
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— Ryan Parish (@RyanParishmedia)
April 1, 2025
Strengths
- Size-speed freak
- Good contact balance with his makes him difficult to bring down
- Capable as a pass catcher with traditional running back routes
Weaknesses
- Not as elusive at the second level
- One-speed runner who can be impatient at times
- Linear runner, not as fluid moving laterally
What others are saying about Omarion Hampton
Lance Zierlein of NFL.com
High-volume battering ram with a three-ingredient recipe of size, strength and aggression. Hampton is a linear runner lacking creativity and wiggle, but once the gas is engaged, he runs like a downhill truck whose brake lines have been cut. He has the base, balance and power to batter tacklers and reignite runs after contact but he fails to recognize alternative run lanes that offer easier paths and more yardage. He needs to work on his pass protection but can create positive plays on swing passes and screens. Hampton is a tone-setting future starter who can handle a heavy workload, but he absorbs rare levels of heavy contact that could create durability or longevity issues if he doesn’t learn to pick and choose his battles.
The blend of burst and pliability at first contact makes him someone who absorbs contact quite well, and as a result, he’s a pile pusher and a churner through second-level contact. With surprising mobility throughout his lower half, Hampton plays with strong contact balance and pairs that with light feet that step over and around trash at his feet as he presses the line of scrimmage.
This is a big back with a slippery feel — not just thanks to his feet and power but thanks to strong vision and processing out of the mesh point. He’s quick to ID and attack holes that are present immediately but is also accustomed to having to press the line of scrimmage and make a snap decision through a small crease.
Hampton is built like an NFL running back. He runs behind his pads with a strong leg drive. He has good body control and contact balance to bounce off tacklers and gain yards after contact. He converts speed-to-power well to run through defenders and fall forward. Hampton is at his best when his shoulders are squared to the line of scrimmage. He is an ideal fit for downhill gap scheme run offenses with a mixture of inside zones. He is a strong short-yardage and red-zone runner because of his physical and powerful running style.
Omarion Hampton’s fit with the Steelers
If the Steelers were able to get four 1,000 yard seasons out of Najee Harris despite some obvious scheme-fit issues, I have no doubt Hampton could make a positive impact for the Steelers. When the draft cycle first started picking up in Demember, Hampton was my RB4. After watching film on all of the top running backs, he’s climbed up to my RB2. He just checks so many boxes: size, acceleration, toughness, vision, receiving ability.
Truthfully, Arthur Smith’s zone scheme is not the best fit for Hampton. Hampton thrives making quick reads and decisions, something a gap scheme can simplify for a back. While I think Hampton has good enough vision and burst to work running zone, that scheme rewards patience in a runner, and Hampton currently is better off in schemes where he can stick his foot in the ground and take off right away. Still, Smith had success with Derrick Henry, who I wouldn’t describe as a particularly twitchy back.
There’s a solid chance the Steelers won’t have a realistic shot at Hampton. He’s being talked about as a potential first-round pick, and I struggle to see the Steelers taking one that early. Even if he falls out of the first round, the Steelers would have to acquire a second round pick to bring him to Pittsburgh. That’s why it’s far more likely we’ll see him suit up for an AFC North rival.
TL;DR: Hampton is a battering ram with enough speed to fit in any system, though there is reason to doubt his fit with Arthur Smith’s offense. However, based on where he is projected to be picked, there is a strong chance that we see him land with a team like the Browns or Ravens.
What are your thoughts on UNC RB Omarion Hampton? And which draft prospects would you like to see profiled next? Let us know in the comments below!
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