UNC football has history of great RB duos. Omarion Hampton, George Pettaway next in line.
North Carolina football has produced some dynamic running back tandems throughout its football history.
There was Amos Lawrence and Kelvin Bryant in 1980, Curtis Johnson and Leon Johnson in the 1990s and most recently Michael Carter and Javonte Williams.
Could true freshmen Omarion Hampton and George Pettaway be the next in line to become a formidable one-two punch in UNC's backfield? While it's too early to tell if they'll become history-makers like the tandems above, both made strong first impressions last Saturday in the Tar Heels season opener against Florida A&M.
Hampton, an in-state product from Clayton, became the first true freshman at UNC to rush for over 100 yards in his debut since legendary Charlie "Choo Choo'' Justice in 1946.
Hampton piled up 101 yards on 14 carries and scored two touchdowns, while Pettaway, from Suffolk, Virginia, scored on a 29-yard run in the fourth quarter. Pettaway finished with 51 yards on four carries.
"We thought they were good,'' UNC coach Mack Brown said. "But they played well and got better as the game went on. That was something we wanted to see.''
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Junior D.J. Jones was North Carolina's starter at running back in the opener and was praised by Brown for his blocking efforts. The Pine Forest alum is listed as the starter again this week as UNC (1-0) plays at Appalachian State on Saturday. But Hampton and Pettaway should again figure prominently in the offensive game plan.
Both came to UNC as highly touted prospects — Pettaway was rated the nation's No. 8 running back prospect and Hampton was No. 11 by 247sports.com. The Tar Heels beat out major powers such as Michigan, Penn State, Alabama, and Auburn to sign them last December.
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Graduate student British Brooks was expected to be UNC's starter at running back before suffering a lower body injury in preseason practice. His injury accelerated the need to get the two freshmen backs up to speed. Pettaway had a slight advantage because he enrolled in January and competed in spring practice. But the 6-foot, 215-pound Hampton caught up quickly with some extra effort.
"I would usually stay out there after (preseason) practice with the coaches,'' Hampton said. "We'd go over plays and all the stuff I needed to work on because I came in late.''
It was during those early days in camp that Hampton's potential became evident to the team's veterans.
"It didn't surprise me,'' junior receiver Josh Downs said of Hampton's opening effort. "I knew he was like that from the first scrimmage we had in fall camp. He's a freshman but you look at his build. He looks like a fifth-year senior. That speaks for itself.''
While Hampton plays a slashing running style reminiscent of Javonte Williams, the 5-11, 190-pound Pettaway is a speedy, elusive runner very similar to Michael Carter. Fans got a glimpse of his skills on the 29-yard touchdown run against FAMU when eluded three defenders on the way to the end zone.
"George is really fast,'' Brown said. "He made everybody look slow when he was out there on his (touchdown) run. That was really special and it shows how he is in the open field.''
Repeating last week's success will be a challenge. But Brown hopes that performance will be a boost to his young backs against the Mountaineers.
"We felt like it was really important to play those young backs in the opener to see what they can do and get them confident before we head to Boone the second week,'' Brown said. "Now, we want to see them take another step this week.''
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: UNC football's Omarion Hampton, George Pettaway could be great RB duo
