It's essentially impossible to replace a guy like Omarion Hampton.
The First-Team All-ACC star was everything you’d want in a running back. Standing 6-feet, 220-pounds and strong as an ox with 4.46 40-yard dash speed, Hampton is the full package. He’s even been projected as high as No. 10 in some NFL mock drafts.
However, what the UNC football program can do is lessen the blow of losing a talent like Hampton by relying on a committee of players. And the Tar Heels look to be doing just that, adding former Michigan Wolverine running back Benjamin Hall from the transfer portal. Hayes Fawcett, transfer portal reporter for On3 Sports, reported on the news.
BREAKING: Michigan transfer RB Benjamin Hall has Committed to North Carolina, he tells @on3sports
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) April 21, 2025
The 5’11 221 RB will have 3 years of eligibility remaining
“Joshua 1:9”https://t.co/RlUbB6EMhS pic.twitter.com/BxpK5BbJT1
Hall has three years of eligibility remaining after two seasons in a limited role at Michigan. He rushed for 72 yards on 29 carries last season, appearing in six games. But Hall’s most intriguing upside comes from his size. He has a rock-solid 5-foot-11, 235-pound frame that adds plenty of power and muscle to the Tar Heels' backfield. It will be interesting to see how Hall operates in a potentially bigger role than he had at Michigan.
In the running back room, Hall joins UNC returnees Davion Guase, Charleston French, and Caleb Hood, along with incoming 3-star freshmen Demon June and Jariel Cobb. Gause is the most productive returnee for the Tar Heels, running for 326 yards on 67 carries last season and finding the end zone four times. Gause projects to take on an even bigger role with Hampton off to the NFL, and the rising sophomore is the likely day-one starter, but there’s still no clear-cut standout stud in the UNC backfield. The carries will be by committee, and Hall will undoubtedly be in the mix.
One of the biggest offseason questions for head coach Bill Belichick has been: What will the backfield look like without Hampton? Well, the backfield is finally starting to take shape, featuring a solid core with promising potential. Hall will be an important depth piece for UNC this season. Welcome to Chapel Hill.