PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – A couple of first-round picks at positions of need visiting the Steelers on Wednesday. What to know about a running back familiar with Pittsburgh, an Oregon defensive lineman and a Doak Walker winner.
Omarion Hampton is one of those players who seemed to play against Pitt for seven years. The North Carolina star rushed for 1,504 yards in 2023 and 1,660 yards last season with 15 touchdowns each of those years. He also averaged 5.9 yards-per-rush each of those seasons and named First Team All-ACC two straight years.
Against the Panthers in 2024, he carried it 23 times for 106 yards and a touchdown. He ran for four touchdowns against Florida State and 244 yards on Wake Forest. He had a touchdown with 66 yards rushing against the Panthers in 2023 along with 197 yards against Miami.
Hampton is expected to be a first-round pick who could go in the top 10 or be available when the Steelers pick at 21. NFL.com projects him to be a plus-starter and is that big back in terms of thickness at 6’, 221 pounds, but also has some explosion.
Oregon defensive lineman Derrick Harmon is another plus-starter according to NFL.com. He was at Michigan State his first three seasons before transferring to the Ducks where he was a Second Team AP All-American even though he was Third Team All-Big 10. The 6’4”, 313-pound Harmon forced a pair of fumbles (one against Ohio State), 10.5 tackles for loss, five sacks and four pass breakups.
Harmon is a power inside presence who can play anywhere on the line according to NFL.com with a blend of size, length and strength. Needs to work on his consistency and is generally a first-round pick in most mock drafts.
Also visiting was 6’1”, 226-pound Oklahoma State running back Ollie Gordon II who was Honorable Mention All-Big 12 with 880 rushing yards and 13 TD in 2024. Gordon was the 2023 Doak Walker Award Winner as the best running back, unanimous All-American and Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year as a sophomore. He led the nation in rushing yards (1,732) with nine, 100-yard games and 21 touchdowns.
He was arrested for suspicion of DUI in July of 2024.
NFL.com said he has the potential to be a starter and likely a day two draft pick as a bruiser. That would seem to fit with the other two current Steelers running backs, although both are on one-year deals. A criticism from NFL.com is that he runs too high and lacks agility in short areas, but has natural hands as a receiver and can get downhill quickly.