All Tar Heels

UNC Football Star Reaches Milestone in Charlotte Despite Defeat

Omarion Hampton finished behind only one UNC football alum in single-season rushing yards.

Matt Giles

Photo credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
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Not much went right for the UNC football team at the Duke's Mayo Bowl in Charlotte's Bank of America Stadium on Wednesday night, as the Tar Heels fell to West Virginia, 30-10.

All-ACC First Team running back Omarion Hampton wasn't immune to UNC's struggles. He tallied a subpar 62 yards on 19 carries and zero scores. It didn't help that many of his UNC co-stars and blockers didn't play after either entering the transfer portal or shifting their focus to the NFL Draft within the past month. 

Even so, Hampton's production was just enough to become only the second UNC football player in history to eclipse 1,500 rushing yards (1,504) in a season. And his night included the leapfrogging of Elijah Hood (1,463 rushing yards in 2015) to end up at No. 2 on the list of all-time Tar Heel single-season rushing leaders.

UNC's other member of the 1,500-yard club is former two-time ACC Player of the Year and one-time consensus All-American Don McCauley. He amassed 1,720 yards on the ground in 1970. 

But consider that McCauley, who went on to become a first-round pick and played 10 years for the then-Baltimore Colts in the NFL, set the still-standing UNC single-season rushing record as a senior.

Doak Walker Award finalist Omarion Hampton, a former four-star recruit from Clayton, N.C., is only a sophomore. The 20-year-old looks to be a preseason candidate for ACC Player of the Year as a junior in Chapel Hill, and he'll get another crack at breaking program records.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, Duke Blue Devils on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining UNC on SI in 2023, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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