'Our best player': Omarion Hampton's five touchdowns carry Tar Heels to win over FSU

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — During the post-win celebrations, the UNC football team began to chant “speech” over and over again in the visitor's locker room of Doak Campbell Stadium. 

With the help of head coach Mack Brown, junior Omarion Hampton took the floor. After declining to make a speech last week following a two-touchdown, 142 total yard performance in a win against Virginia, the running back decided to speak after a historic afternoon against Florida State. It was three words. Quick and efficient. 

“Good O-line.”

Hampton then exited the makeshift stage, drifting back to where he feels most comfortable — away from the attention. 

“He said nothing last week,” Brown said. “This week, he gave a long speech.”

Although Hampton likes to stay away from the spotlight, his performances don't allow him to. On Saturday, during a 35-11 beatdown of Florida State, the junior notched every single touchdown the Tar Heels put on the board, racking up 265 all-purpose yards in the process. Hampton became the fourth Tar Heel in North Carolina history and the first since 1981 to record five touchdowns in a single game. Following the win, the running back moved to seventh all-time on UNC's rushing yards list. 

While Hampton has consistently led the offense throughout the season, Brown relied on him more heavily to exploit a weakness against the Seminoles, whose rushing defense ranks last in the ACC. 

Hampton tied a season-high 35 touches during the game.

“He's our best player,” Brown said. “And if you can beat them with your best player, then that's what you need to do.”

Although no single play exemplifies the day Hampton had, there are a couple standouts.  

To score his third touchdown of the afternoon, Hampton capped off a three-minute long drive with a 31-yard rush up the middle early in the third quarter. He bounced off FSU defensive back Quindarrius Jones who attempted to take down the star player and narrowly avoided another defender in the process.

Hampton wasn't even jarred. 

Two possessions later, Hampton single-handedly marched the Tar Heels down the field, recording every single touch during the seven-play drive. He began the series with a 43-yard rush down the left side of the field and ended it with a one-yard charge into the end zone on fourth down.

“We're close to the goal line,” Hampton said. “I know I had to get it in.”

When he scored his fifth and final touchdown off a shovel pass that resulted in a 49-yard house call, the ever-stoic Hampton gave the ball back to the referee while wide receivers J.J. Jones and Christian Hamilton celebrated for him, flashing smiles and dancing in front of the camera placed in the end zone. 

Hampton just stood there beside them. 

The junior's teammates will often praise Hampton when he's unable to do it himself. Questions geared toward the running back about his success are quickly deflected to short responses about the cohesiveness of the team. 

So, sophomore linebacker Amare Campbell offered the words Hampton refused to say following the game. Playfully calling him soft — which mustered a “that's crazy” from Hampton — Campbell began to describe the running back in detail.

As the linebacker talked, Hampton stayed positioned just out of sight of reporters with his head in his hands in the press conference room.  

“His motor is crazy,” Campbell said. “I've never seen him get tired. So, I feel like that's just the biggest thing. He shows no facial [expressions], no nothing. He's just always on go.”

If Campbell had to make a speech as short as Hampton's? 

“He's relentless.”

Hampton looked up for the first time. He finally smiled. 

@_emmahmoon

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