Mike McDaniel Gushes About Chargers RB Omarion Hampton's Growth

McDaniel is bringing a new offense to L.A. that promises to be faster and more rhythmic than what the team has run in the past. He said that Hampton has shown lots of growth this summer and seems to have the right mindset.

“I would say he has, from the first day that we’ve gotten on the field … had as much, if not the most, growth as any player,” McDaniel said earlier in training camp, per the Los Angeles Times. “And that’s because … this guy’s completely obsessed and focused. His tracks and the urgency in which we’re trying to get him to start the play has been phenomenal.

“Nobody wants to tackle that guy. That is a massive human moving very fast. The less we can get him to stop his feet and do what we call ‘slash’ and pick edges of defenders and shoulder-punch them, the better. I’m very confident, and it’s very exciting, what he’s doing each and every day.”

Hampton barely played in the Chargers’ three preseason games, but he had a moment during a joint practice against the San Francisco 49ers last week that could be a coming attraction of what he will do this season. He took a handoff and ran down the middle, then lowered his head and shoulder and dislodged Niners safety Ji’Ayir Brown to gain extra yardage.

That play would’ve resulted in a penalty for illegal helmet-to-helmet contact had it happened during an actual game. But it showed a bit of Hampton’s aggression and determination.

Hampton is at the top of the team’s depth chart at running back, but even if he doesn’t become much more than what he was last year, the team does seem to have depth at that position. Kimani Vidal started in 10 of his 13 games in 2025 and registered 643 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns. Newcomer Keaton Mitchell is slated to be second on the depth chart despite an injury he’s currently dealing with, and roster hopeful Greg Desrosiers Jr. exploded for 118 rushing yards and one touchdown on Thursday versus the Los Angeles Rams.