The stories are legendary around the town of Clayton and Johnston County of Omarion Hampton's evolution as a top-flight running back and a player that would draw national recruiting interest beginning in the fall of 2019.
The locals remember at least two entire games at Cleveland Middle School when Hampton was never actually tackled to the ground. Every carry resulted in a touchdown or being knocked out-of-bounds.
There was the day his sophomore year when "The Big O," as he was known around his Cleveland High Ram teammates, set a school record among running backs and linebackers by squatting 560 pounds.