Clark Lea and the Vanderbilt staff added another member to the Commodores' 2026 recruiting class on Monday, flipping a talented running back prospect from Louisville where he'd been committed since March.
Evan Hampton, a 4-Star back from Owensboro, Kentucky, took to social media on Monday evening make his announcement.
⚓️ @CoachMuh_Lank @Coach_Lea pic.twitter.com/VTlFJgKwn5
— Evan Hampton (@Evanhampton34) July 15, 2025
He wrote in his post, "My family, friends, teammates and coaches have provided unwavering support throughout this process of fortifying my future...Making such a monumental decision has felt heavy at times, but ultimately, I allowed the Lord to guide me as I began to realize I was feeling pulled in a different direction."
The post continued, "I am excited and grateful to formally announce my commitment to Vanderbilt Football. Immediately after visiting I felt a sense of community, and recognized this university's commitment to excellence."
Standing at 6-foot, 208 lbs., Hampton is ranked as the No. 22 running back in the nation and the No. 1 player in Kentucky, according to 247Sports' composite ranking. He rushed for over 1,300 yards as a junior in 2024 for Owensboro High School, finishing the season with 17 touchdowns as well.
Hampton has also been utilized as a receiver out of the backfield as well throughout his varsity career and has over 500 receiving yards with seven more touchdowns.
With now 17 prospects in the 2026 class for Lea and the Commodores staff, Vanderbilt looks to be in a good spot to finish strong and potentially secure one of the better classes in recent program history.
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