University of North Carolina Athletics
Caleb Hood & Willie Lampkin
Extra Points: Ultimate Underdog
October 12, 2023 | Football
Caleb Hood was already crossing the goal line, but Willie Lampkin was just getting started. He locked up on the inside linebacker for App State, his buttocks low, his feet churning, his powerful hands locked onto the front of the defender's jersey. He drove and drove and drove, taking his opponent nine yards deep into the end zone.
The back judge was standing just a few feet away and bore down on his whistle and stepped in to separate the players, Hood on the other side of the end zone already being mobbed by his teammates as the Tar Heels scored an important second-half touchdown in what would be a 40-34 overtime win over the Mountaineers.
Lampkin punched the air with his fist and retreated to the sideline with a smile of satisfaction across his face. He was met by Caleb Pickrell, an offensive analyst on the Tar Heel coaching staff who had coached Lampkin for two years of high school ball in Lakeland, Fla., from 2018-19.
"That in a nutshell is Willie," says Pickrell, who came to Chapel Hill from Central Florida for the 2022 season. "He'll run his feet through the whistle and put them on their back and make them feel physically like they're at a disadvantage. He's the ultimate underdog. To watch him play out his dream and flourish while doing so is very satisfying, knowing where he's come from and what he's overcome."
And what he has overcome, specifically, are his 71 inches of body height. A football player standing 5-foot-11 can find many opportunities but rarely on the offensive line, where the sequoias and redwoods rule and you crane your neck to have a conversation. But heart can trump size, particularly when the lack of physical size is balanced by foot, hand and technical skills honed through hours on the wrestling mats.
"In wrestling if you get too high, you're on your back," says Lampkin, a Florida state champion in 2020 with a 47-0 record. "That's an easy pin. You have to keep your feet moving."
"There's no place to hide on the wrestling mat," Pickrell adds. "It's you and the other guy. Tight hands and quick feet win in wrestling and they definitely translate to the football field."
Lakeland won the 2018 7-A state title, beating perennial powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas with Lampkin nailing several pancake blocks against a future starting defensive tackle in the Southeastern Conference. But no Power 5 offers came during his senior year, and Lampkin chose Coastal Carolina over offers from Bowling Green, App State and South Florida. He was a starter for the Chanticleers for three seasons, including the squad that captured the nation's fancy in 2020 with a 10-0 regular season record and wins at Kansas and at home against BYU.
With Sun Belt Conference Offensive Lineman of the Year honors in 2022 and the specter of a coaching turnover at Coastal, Lampkin decided last December to test the transfer portal waters. His production and tenacity caught the eyes of the Tar Heel recruiting staff, and coincidentally Pickrell had been temporarily activated as the offensive line coach for December and the Holiday Bowl with Jack Bicknell having left for Wisconsin. Lampkin reached out to Pickrell and the dominos started falling.
"This guy is a beast," Pickrell told anyone who'd listen. "I knew he was a great fit. He came on his official visit, loved it and won everyone over."
Lampkin took the field for spring practice with other newcomers who found their ways to Chapel Hill through the Tar Heel coaching and support staff digging into their network of friends and family.
In looking for connections when players enter the transfer portal, Carolina was able to learn more about cornerback Alijah Huzzie through East Tennessee State running backs coach Gary Downs, the father of former Carolina slot receiver Josh. General Manager Pat Suddes helped recruit and spent time with Nate McCollum at Georgia Tech. Receiver Tez Walker was a known quantity to receivers coach Lonnie Galloway, who had contacted and evaluated Walker when Walker was in high school in Charlotte and Galloway was an assistant at Louisville.
It didn't take long for Coach Mack Brown and the Tar Heels to realize Lampkin was bowling ball waiting for pins to scatter asunder.
"He dislocated his fingers twice the other day in practice and wouldn't come out," Brown said after practice one day. "He had the trainers tape them and go back in. He is tough as nails. And what he misses with size he gains with toughness and athletic ability. So he's really going to help us."
Lampkin won a starting job at guard and played the South Carolina and App State games, then missed the Minnesota and Pitt games with a lower body injury. He was back in the lineup for the demolition of Syracuse last weekend.
He faced interior defensive lineman for South Carolina standing 6-3 and 6-4. App State's depth chart at nose guard ranged from 6-1 to 6-5.
"I already have low pad level, I'm already super low," Lampkin says. "I'm going to get under you every single time and you're definitely going to go for a ride. I'm not as big as the defensive line, I have to do something that helps me stand out more. If I put guys on their back, run them 10-15 yards down the field, that's what separates me a little bit."
The front four that Miami brings to Chapel Hill Saturday night stands 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 and 6-5 across. And there's a middle linebacker at 6-5.
"They're big and athletic," Lampkin says. "We have to have great hands, great feet and great eyes."
And a lot of grit and backbone doesn't hurt, either. Low man wins where Willie Lampkin's concerned.
"Willie's fueled by an internal drive to prove people wrong," Pickrell says. "That type of engine that burns hot like that can take you a long way."
Chapel Hill writer Lee Pace (Carolina '79) is in his 34th season writing about Tar Heel football under the "Extra Points" banner. Look for his columns throughout the season. Write him at leepace7@gmail.com and follow him @LeePaceTweet.
The back judge was standing just a few feet away and bore down on his whistle and stepped in to separate the players, Hood on the other side of the end zone already being mobbed by his teammates as the Tar Heels scored an important second-half touchdown in what would be a 40-34 overtime win over the Mountaineers.
Lampkin punched the air with his fist and retreated to the sideline with a smile of satisfaction across his face. He was met by Caleb Pickrell, an offensive analyst on the Tar Heel coaching staff who had coached Lampkin for two years of high school ball in Lakeland, Fla., from 2018-19.
"That in a nutshell is Willie," says Pickrell, who came to Chapel Hill from Central Florida for the 2022 season. "He'll run his feet through the whistle and put them on their back and make them feel physically like they're at a disadvantage. He's the ultimate underdog. To watch him play out his dream and flourish while doing so is very satisfying, knowing where he's come from and what he's overcome."
And what he has overcome, specifically, are his 71 inches of body height. A football player standing 5-foot-11 can find many opportunities but rarely on the offensive line, where the sequoias and redwoods rule and you crane your neck to have a conversation. But heart can trump size, particularly when the lack of physical size is balanced by foot, hand and technical skills honed through hours on the wrestling mats.
"In wrestling if you get too high, you're on your back," says Lampkin, a Florida state champion in 2020 with a 47-0 record. "That's an easy pin. You have to keep your feet moving."
"There's no place to hide on the wrestling mat," Pickrell adds. "It's you and the other guy. Tight hands and quick feet win in wrestling and they definitely translate to the football field."
Lakeland won the 2018 7-A state title, beating perennial powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas with Lampkin nailing several pancake blocks against a future starting defensive tackle in the Southeastern Conference. But no Power 5 offers came during his senior year, and Lampkin chose Coastal Carolina over offers from Bowling Green, App State and South Florida. He was a starter for the Chanticleers for three seasons, including the squad that captured the nation's fancy in 2020 with a 10-0 regular season record and wins at Kansas and at home against BYU.
With Sun Belt Conference Offensive Lineman of the Year honors in 2022 and the specter of a coaching turnover at Coastal, Lampkin decided last December to test the transfer portal waters. His production and tenacity caught the eyes of the Tar Heel recruiting staff, and coincidentally Pickrell had been temporarily activated as the offensive line coach for December and the Holiday Bowl with Jack Bicknell having left for Wisconsin. Lampkin reached out to Pickrell and the dominos started falling.
"This guy is a beast," Pickrell told anyone who'd listen. "I knew he was a great fit. He came on his official visit, loved it and won everyone over."
Lampkin took the field for spring practice with other newcomers who found their ways to Chapel Hill through the Tar Heel coaching and support staff digging into their network of friends and family.
In looking for connections when players enter the transfer portal, Carolina was able to learn more about cornerback Alijah Huzzie through East Tennessee State running backs coach Gary Downs, the father of former Carolina slot receiver Josh. General Manager Pat Suddes helped recruit and spent time with Nate McCollum at Georgia Tech. Receiver Tez Walker was a known quantity to receivers coach Lonnie Galloway, who had contacted and evaluated Walker when Walker was in high school in Charlotte and Galloway was an assistant at Louisville.
It didn't take long for Coach Mack Brown and the Tar Heels to realize Lampkin was bowling ball waiting for pins to scatter asunder.
"He dislocated his fingers twice the other day in practice and wouldn't come out," Brown said after practice one day. "He had the trainers tape them and go back in. He is tough as nails. And what he misses with size he gains with toughness and athletic ability. So he's really going to help us."
Lampkin won a starting job at guard and played the South Carolina and App State games, then missed the Minnesota and Pitt games with a lower body injury. He was back in the lineup for the demolition of Syracuse last weekend.
He faced interior defensive lineman for South Carolina standing 6-3 and 6-4. App State's depth chart at nose guard ranged from 6-1 to 6-5.
"I already have low pad level, I'm already super low," Lampkin says. "I'm going to get under you every single time and you're definitely going to go for a ride. I'm not as big as the defensive line, I have to do something that helps me stand out more. If I put guys on their back, run them 10-15 yards down the field, that's what separates me a little bit."
The front four that Miami brings to Chapel Hill Saturday night stands 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 and 6-5 across. And there's a middle linebacker at 6-5.
"They're big and athletic," Lampkin says. "We have to have great hands, great feet and great eyes."
And a lot of grit and backbone doesn't hurt, either. Low man wins where Willie Lampkin's concerned.
"Willie's fueled by an internal drive to prove people wrong," Pickrell says. "That type of engine that burns hot like that can take you a long way."
Chapel Hill writer Lee Pace (Carolina '79) is in his 34th season writing about Tar Heel football under the "Extra Points" banner. Look for his columns throughout the season. Write him at leepace7@gmail.com and follow him @LeePaceTweet.
Players Mentioned
Running Back
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DB
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Offensive Line
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