As college football teams return to training camp this week ahead of a new season, two of UNC football’s most dynamic players are earning national recognition by being tabbed to end-of-season award watch lists.

Running back Omarion Hampton and edge rusher Kaimon Rucker earned a spot on respective preseason lists this week, with Rucker landing on the preseason Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List and Hampton being named to the 2024 Maxwell Award Watch List. The Maxwell Award is given to the top college football player each season by its membership group — while the Nagurski Trophy is awarded at the end of each season to the top defensive player in college football, as determined by the Football Writers Association of America.

Hampton — who is coming into his junior year as UNC’s lead offensive threat — earned the spot based on a significant jump in production in 2023. The Clayton, N.C. native lead the ACC in rushing yards, rushing attempts, rushing touchdowns, rushing yards per game, and rushing attempts per game. His final rushing totals of 1,504 yards and 115.69 yards per game also ranked fifth nationally among players. The efforts landed Hampton the lead running back spot on the All-ACC First Team.

Rucker, meanwhile, earned a spot on the All-ACC Second Team based on his senior season production. In 2023, the edge rusher led Carolina in tackles for loss, sacks and quarterback pressures while starting all 13 games. The Hartwell, G.A. native announced he would return for a fifth season in Chapel Hill after playing through a ruptured tendon in his finger suffered in November — and has already been recognized as a 2024 preseason All-American by both the Walter Camp Football Foundation and Phil Steele.

UNC football, which finished 8-5 in 2023, will kick off its 2024 season on Thursday, August 29 at Minnesota. Both Rucker and Hampton were among the contingent of Carolina players present at the ACC Kick-off event in Charlotte on Thursday, July 25. Comments from the players and head coach Mack Brown can be read here.

 

Featured photo via AP Photo/Chris Seward.

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