Willie Lampkin, North Carolina: 2025 NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Lampkin was a three-star recruit from Lakeland High School in Lakeland, Fla. in the class of 2020
North Carolina’s Willie Lampkin is one of the most accomplished college offensive linemen in recent history, and his hand usage and technical development rank among the top prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft. Unfortunately, he’s an extreme outlier who would be a one-of-one prospect if he found sustained success in the NFL.
Visit my Twitter account @Sam_Teets33 for more opinions on prospects, clips, and the latest football content.
Willie Lampkin, IOL North Carolina: 2025 NFL Draft Profile
Classification: Fifth-year right guard from Lakeland, Fla.
Background: Lampkin was a three-star recruit from Lakeland High School in Lakeland, Fla. in the class of 2020. He was the No. 1,965 recruit according to 247Sports and No. 2,087 for On3.com. Lampkin was an unranked two-star recruit for Rivals and an unranked three-star recruit for ESPN with a 72 grade out of 100. He transferred from Coastal Carolina to North Carolina for the 2023 season. Lampkin played both sides of the ball in high school. He played his first two seasons at Mulberry High School before arriving at Lakeland. Lampkin helped pave the way to a 2018 FHSAA Class 7A State Championship as a junior and a runner-up finish in the 2019 FHSAA Class 7A Football State Championship. He also lettered in wrestling. In 2020, he was the FHSAA Class 2A State Champion and went 47-0. Lampkin went 46-4 as a junior, finishing as the runner-up in the Class 3A State Championship. He was born on Jan. 22, 2002.
Injuries & Off-Field: Missed 2023 Minnesota and Pitt games with a lower leg injury
Awards: 2020 Second Team All-Sun Belt, 2020 Freshman All-American (ESPN, FWAA, The Athletic, 247Sports), 2021 Second Team All-Sun Belt, 2022 First Team All-Sun Belt, 2022 CFN Sun Belt Conference Offensive Lineman of the Year, 2023 Third Team All-ACC, 2024 First Team All-ACC, 2024 First Team All-American
Pros: Starting experience at left guard, right guard, and center, over 4,100 career offensive snaps, terrific on-field mentality, arm length checks the box for a center, natural leverage advantage, wide base, resets base and grinds down power rushes, disdain for defenders, tight hand placement gets into defender’s chest, sudden strike, strike timing, independent hand usage, combative hands, nice grip strength, aggressive sets that take the air out of the rush, lateral agility and foot quickness to adjust for stunts, awareness of stunts and blitzes, head on a swivel looking to support other linemen, uncoils and drives power through hips, powerful leg drive to displace defenders on angle blocks, leg drive to displace larger players, battles to stay attached and finish blocks, impressive grappler in short yardage situations, seeks pancakes, can run gap or wide zone, powerful when combo blocking to second level, bisects second level threats, mobility to block downfield, footspeed and acceleration to match defenders in the open field
Cons: Rarely used on special teams, 23 penalties committed over the past three years, extremely undersized and physical outlier, doesn’t meet weight and height thresholds, high punches contact opponent’s helmet, beaten by swims when he lunges into blocks, caught by swim moves several times vs. Wake Forest (2024), sometimes caught throwing all his momentum forward in the run game, lacks power to generate consistent vertical displacement
Overview: Lampkin played more than 4,100 career offensive snaps split between left guard, right guard, and center. He took at least 930 snaps at all three positions. Lampkin cut back on penalties in 2024 but still amassed 23 over the past three seasons. He took fewer than a dozen special teams snaps in college, which limits his ability to see immediate playing time in the NFL. Lampkin is an extreme size outlier at just 5'10 3/8", 270 lbs. If he found sustained success in the league, he would be the first lineman in modern history with that build to do so. His 32-inch arms aren’t ideal but meet minimum thresholds for an interior player. Lampkin blocks with an aggressive mentality that will ingratiate him with teammates and coaches. His motor is always turned up, and he looks for opportunities to pancake opponents. The former Coastal Carolina transfer plays with a natural leverage advantage and wide base that he resets to gradually weaken and eliminate power rushes. His technical hand usage is excellent. Lampkin uses impressive hand placement to access the defender’s chest despite his limited length. He unleashes sudden strikes with ideal timing and deploys independent hand usage. His grip strength makes him a nightmare for defenders to engage in close quarters. Lampkin takes aggressive jump sets that quickly eliminate the defender’s air and catch pass rushers off guard. The Florida native is a fluid lateral athlete with the foot quickness and agility to mirror rushers, stay attached to blocks, and redirect for stunts and blitzes. He displays impressive awareness in pass protection. Lampkin uncoils and drives power through his hips in the run game. His natural leverage, powerful leg drive, and controlling grip strength help him displace much larger players. He resets his feet and hands to stay attached to blocks as he strains to finish plays. Lampkin’s wrestling background shows up in short yardage situations with his core strength, hand placement, and leverage manipulation. He’s mobile and capable of operating in gap and wide zone schemes. Lampkin easily combo blocks to the second level or climbs in open space to bisect linebackers. He flashes the footspeed and acceleration to match defenders downfield in space. The All-American gets caught lunging or throwing his full weight into blocks, making him vulnerable to swim counters. He lacks the power and stature to generate consistent vertical displacement.
Overall, Lampkin would be considered for a top 60 selection if he met the league’s thresholds. These types of outliers need to walk on water to achieve success in the NFL. While technically advanced and mentally hardened, Lampkin doesn’t reach those lofty heights. He projects as a depth piece and subpackage blocker who can operate as a fullback or sixth lineman.
Role & Scheme Fit: Center in a wide zone scheme or subpackage blocker
Round Grade: Sixth Round
Size: 5'10 3/8", 270 lbs. (Senior Bowl)
Submitted: 03-06-25