UNC football recruit named Mr. Football in North Carolina

It’s been a good week for Cleveland High School football star Omarion Hampton.

On Tuesday, he was named the N.C. Gatorade player of the year. Wednesday night, he earned the state’s top football honor, being named The Charlotte Observer’s Mr. Football North Carolina.

Hampton is a 6-foot, 215-pound senior ranked No. 11 nationally at his position by 247 Sports. He’s expected to sign next week with Mack Brown’s North Carolina Tar Heels during the NCAA’s Early Signing Period. He will play in the All-American Bowl on NBC in January.

“Omarion has just been a special, special player at Cleveland High School,” said Chris Hughes, a longtime N.C. football analyst and co-host on The Observer’s Talking Preps show. “I think he’s a guy who can show up on campus at the University of North Carolina and be their starting running back on Day 1.”

This season, Hampton ran for 1,948 yards and 39 touchdowns on 182 carries. He caught 11 passes for 272 yards and three touchdowns. Counting returns, he amassed 2,428 yards and 43 touchdowns for a Cleveland team that finished 11-1 and was conference champion.

For his career, Hampton rushed 517 times for 5,370 yards and 88 touchdowns.

▪ There were three finalists for the Mr. Football award. The other two were Chambers running back Daylan Smothers and Rolesville quarterback Byrum Brown.

Omarion Hampton’s Career Rushing Statistics

This story was originally published December 9, 2021 at 6:00 AM.

Langston Wertz Jr.

The Charlotte Observer

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Langston Wertz Jr. is an award-winning sports journalist who has worked at the Observer since 1988. He’s covered everything from Final Fours and NFL to video games and Britney Spears. Wertz -- a West Charlotte High and UNC grad -- is the rare person who can answer “Charlotte,” when you ask, “What city are you from.” Support my work with a digital subscription