Omarion Hampton emerged as a breakout star for North Carolina football in 2023, finishing the season as the ACC’s top running back.
Texas A&M transfer Max Johnson, one of the UNC quarterbacks hoping to get the starting nod for the 2024 opener at Minnesota, went back to watch film of Hampton’s stellar sophomore season before joining the Tar Heels.
Hampton led the ACC with 1,442 yards and 15 touchdowns, cementing his status as one of the league’s top players entering this year.
“He’s an absolute stud who can do everything — catch, run, pass protect, and everything in between,” Johnson said at ACC Kickoff in Charlotte.
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So which Tar Heels have the potential to be breakout players in 2024?
Johnson and Hampton, along with quarterback Conner Harrell, and defenders Kaimon Rucker and Power Echols were asked that question at the league’s preseason media days.
Here’s a look at four potential breakout players and a position group, according to five Tar Heels.
Jordan Shipp, wide receiver
Shipp was mentioned by each of the five Tar Heels at ACC Kickoff. A freshman wide receiver from Charlotte, Shipp ended his high school career as a three-time state champion and became UNC’s top recruit in the 2024 class.
“With Jordan being an early enrollee freshman, I feel like he can step in and make an impact the second that he touches the field,” Rucker said.
Johnson said: “I don’t see (Shipp) as a freshman. He doesn’t act like a freshman, he doesn’t work like a freshman, he works like an older guy. Very dynamic, can run all the routes and catch any ball.”
Harrell highlighted Shipp’s “huge personality.”
“He’s come in and he feels like he’s not a rookie, but a vet,” Harrell said. “He moves well and acts like he’s been here before. He’s picked up the offense pretty fast. He has a chance to make an impact this year.”
DeAndre Boykins, safety
Aside from Shipp, Echols stuck with players on his side of the ball, saying he expects safety DeAndre Boykins to have a bounce-back season.
Boykins, a junior, missed last year due to a season-ending injury in preseason camp. He started all 14 games as a sophomore, finishing with 67 tackles and seven pass breakups.
“DeAndre Boykins is coming off an ACL injury from last year. I feel like a lot of people kind of forgot how big of a part he was to the defense,” Echols said.
Beau Atkinson, defensive end
Rucker believes Atkinson, a sophomore defensive line, will join Shipp as a young player set to contribute this season.
“I really think those guys are going to have breakout years. I know, for both of ‘em, they got some guys that have played a good amount of college football in front of ‘em,” Rucker said of Atkinson and Shipp.
“But I know the second they step on the field, all they’re going to do is produce. These guys are going to put up numbers. I’m really excited to see how both of ‘em step into bigger roles this year.”
Atkinson had 19 tackles, including 3½ sacks in 13 games last season as a redshirt freshman.
“I know, with (Atkinson), he’s improved in so many different ways,” Rucker said. “… He can definitely be a gamechanger for us. I can’t wait to watch him ball out this year.”
Amare Campbell, linebacker
Echols, UNC’s top returner at linebacker, is expecting Campbell to step up and help fill the void left by All-ACC linebacker Cedric Gray.
As a true freshman in 2023, Campbell had four tackles and a quarterback pressure in his first start against West Virginia in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. He finished the season with 14 tackles, one sack and an interception in 11 games.
UNC’s other running backs
Hampton is UNC’s workhorse, but he wanted to give a nod to his position group, which includes Southern Cal transfer Darwin Barlow and senior Caleb Hood.
Barlow is listed as a 6-foot, 220-pound power back who started his career at TCU before playing three seasons for the Trojans. He’s logged 993 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns in his career.
Injuries have been the theme of Hood’s career, but he’s shown flashes of his potential as an impactful ACC running back. In 2022, Hood averaged 5.8 yards per carry across seven games.
“I feel like we have a bunch of dogs who are going to come up this season,” Hampton said. “… They’re all good and they’re going to help me out this year.”
Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached at rbaxley@fayobserver.com or @RoddBaxley on X/Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: UNC football roster: Breakout candidates for Tar Heels in 2024 season
