Omarion Hampton has been one of the most consistent producers in college football over the last two seasons, and might hear his name on the first night of the draft as a result. He’s a reliable runner who doesn’t have any major holes in his game, but does he have the high end skills to be a true difference maker in an NFL offense?
Measurables
Height: 6’0’’, Weight: 221, Arm Length: 30.5’’, Hands: 9.4’’
Testing – Combine
40-Yard Dash: 4.46, 10-Yard Split: 1.54, Vertical: 38”, Broad: 10’10”, Shuttle: 4.4, Bench: 18 Reps
Scouting Overview
Hampton mainly caught the eyes of scouts because of his quick feet and breakaway speed. He can quickly change direction to break through the line of scrimmage, then he uses his excellent third gear speed to defeat the angle of secondary defenders and turn big plays into touchdowns.
On outside runs, he’s able to transition downhill very quickly because of the flexibility in his hips and ankles. Between the tackles, Hampton can wiggle through tight holes in such a way that most backs his size cannot. He rarely misses a hole if the play is blocked as expected. He presses his blockers until the last possible moment, causing second level defenders to over pursue. Hampton also runs with excellent pad level. He can run through smaller defenders, and he finishes runs with strength to always fall forward. His quick feet also allow him to make multiple moves in quick succession, even in tight spaces.
All of these skills make Hampton a very reliable down-to-down runner, with the upside to hit big plays that can change a game. The biggest concern however, is his creativity as a runner, particularly in the second level of a defense. He has the quick feet to make defenders miss in this part of the field, but he doesn’t process the defense as quickly as other top prospects. This causes him to miss the opportunity for big plays that a more clever runner might see. Hampton also has just average initial acceleration. When he has a runway to get up to top speed, very few players will run him down, but it takes him a little longer to get going.
On passing downs, Hampton certainly has enough skill to stay on the field, but likely won’t contribute much beyond screens, checkdowns, and swing routes. Similar to his ability as a runner, he has reliable hands but won’t make many difficult catches away from his frame. His best chance to make an impact on passing downs will likely come as a blocker. He reads second level blitzes very well and has the size and toughness to stand his ground.
Player Comparison
Hampton has a lot of similarities to Lions running back David Montgomery. Both are bigger backs who won’t blow you away with acceleration, but have really quick feet and run with power. Just like Montgomery, Hampton could be a workhorse back, or combine with a better pass catching back to form an elite one-two punch.
Final Grade: Early 2nd Round
This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: NFL Draft Scouting Report – Omarion Hampton
Omarion Hampton has been one of the most consistent producers in college football over the last two seasons, and might hear his name on the first night of the draft as a result. He’s a reliable runner who doesn’t have any major holes in his game, but does he have the high end skills to be a true difference maker in an NFL offense?
Measurables
Height: 6’0’’, Weight: 221, Arm Length: 30.5’’, Hands: 9.4’’
Testing – Combine
40-Yard Dash: 4.46, 10-Yard Split: 1.54, Vertical: 38”, Broad: 10’10”, Shuttle: 4.4, Bench: 18 Reps
Scouting Overview
Hampton mainly caught the eyes of scouts because of his quick feet and breakaway speed. He can quickly change direction to break through the line of scrimmage, then he uses his excellent third gear speed to defeat the angle of secondary defenders and turn big plays into touchdowns.
On outside runs, he’s able to transition downhill very quickly because of the flexibility in his hips and ankles. Between the tackles, Hampton can wiggle through tight holes in such a way that most backs his size cannot. He rarely misses a hole if the play is blocked as expected. He presses his blockers until the last possible moment, causing second level defenders to over pursue. Hampton also runs with excellent pad level. He can run through smaller defenders, and he finishes runs with strength to always fall forward. His quick feet also allow him to make multiple moves in quick succession, even in tight spaces.
All of these skills make Hampton a very reliable down-to-down runner, with the upside to hit big plays that can change a game. The biggest concern however, is his creativity as a runner, particularly in the second level of a defense. He has the quick feet to make defenders miss in this part of the field, but he doesn’t process the defense as quickly as other top prospects. This causes him to miss the opportunity for big plays that a more clever runner might see. Hampton also has just average initial acceleration. When he has a runway to get up to top speed, very few players will run him down, but it takes him a little longer to get going.
On passing downs, Hampton certainly has enough skill to stay on the field, but likely won’t contribute much beyond screens, checkdowns, and swing routes. Similar to his ability as a runner, he has reliable hands but won’t make many difficult catches away from his frame. His best chance to make an impact on passing downs will likely come as a blocker. He reads second level blitzes very well and has the size and toughness to stand his ground.
Player Comparison
Hampton has a lot of similarities to Lions running back David Montgomery. Both are bigger backs who won’t blow you away with acceleration, but have really quick feet and run with power. Just like Montgomery, Hampton could be a workhorse back, or combine with a better pass catching back to form an elite one-two punch.
Final Grade: Early 2nd Round
This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: NFL Draft Scouting Report – Omarion Hampton
