In a league increasingly dominated by aerial attacks, the Los Angeles Chargers are zagging where others zig. Under new head coach Jim Harbaugh, the team is expected to double down on a run-heavy identity—and that philosophy could make rookie running back Omarion Hampton a serious contender for Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.
Las Vegas Raiders rookie running back Ashton Jeanty is currently the odds-on favorite to win the award. But not everyone is sold on that idea.
Hampton, a powerful back out of North Carolina, was selected with the expectation that he would immediately contribute to a revamped Chargers ground game. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler sees the opportunity clearly, noting that “not many teams are more dedicated to the run than the Chargers, who have a budding star in Hampton.” While Los Angeles signed Najee Harris to a one-year deal in free agency, Hampton is viewed as more than just a rotational piece.
Harris may begin the season as the nominal starter, but insiders believe that won’t last long. Ben Solak of ESPN echoes that sentiment, writing, “A one-year deal for Harris doesn’t move the needle for me at all in the Chargers’ backfield. I expect Hampton to quickly become a 15-plus carry player on a weekly basis.” He adds that Hampton’s bruising style and ability to wear down defenses make him an ideal fit in an offense that plans to “pound the rock.”
What Gives Los Angeles Chargers Omarion Hampton A Shot
Hampton’s blend of physicality, vision, and burst gives him the tools to thrive behind an improving offensive line and within a system tailored to his strengths. If Harbaugh’s history at Michigan is any indication, the Chargers will have no issue leaning heavily on their rookie running back early and often.
In a crowded field of talented offensive rookies, volume and fit often separate the contenders from the rest. Hampton has both. Should he seize control of the backfield in the season’s first month—as many expect—he could find himself not only leading all rookie rushers but earning league-wide recognition as a breakout star.
As the Chargers transition into a new era, Omarion Hampton may very well become the face of it.
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