North Carolina interior offensive lineman Willie Lampkin may be the most unconventional player in the 2025 NFL Draft. Lampkin is considered undersized at 5-foot-10 and 270 pounds. Yet he went to the Senior Bowl and flawlessly blocked SEC defenders that weighed 320 pounds or more, wowing scouts in attendance.
Lampkin recently spoke exclusively with The Draft Network. Lampkin discussed raising his pre-draft stock in Mobile, answering questions for scouts about his size, positional versatility, and more.
JM: Now that you've had time to reflect, how do you look back on the decision to transfer from Coastal Carolina to North Carolina? That move placed you on a bigger stage.
Willie Lampkin: I just want to thank God for even allowing me to play football at that level. That’s how I look back on that decision. It’s been an incredible journey. North Carolina is a legendary program. I was so thankful.
I have to thank Coastal Carolina as well. Everything happens for a reason. I had a great career at both universities. I’m thankful for every opportunity that came my way.
JM: I thought you were outstanding this season and at this year's Senior Bowl. You definitely took advantage of that opportunity to prove you can play against anyone in the nation.
Willie Lampkin: The Senior Bowl proved I’m capable of blocking those bigger-bodied defensive linemen. I proved I have a strong anchor. I know that’s a big question a lot of teams and scouts had about me because of my size, especially with me weighing 270.
I know they were scared for me (laughs). They thought I was really light. Can he anchor against guys who weigh 340, 350 pounds? I proved I could. I definitely feel like I answered that question for them.
JM: Your size is something that comes up frequently. You have unconventional size at 5-foot-10 and 270 pounds. Like you said, you never looked overwhelmed by 320-pound defensive tackles in Mobile. How have you managed to compete so effectively at that weight?
Willie Lampkin: My wrestling background helps a ton. I play with great hand placement and terrific leverage. I have great feet and a dog mentality as well. I have a well-rounded skill set.
JM: I love your competitive level. How would you describe your traits and abilities as a guard? Are you agile in space, or a phone-booth blocker? Describe your identity.
Willie Lampkin: I feel like I’m able to do both. Sometimes if the scheme asks us to run inside zone, I can block those guys and do that. Sometimes if I need to get to the second level and run outside zone, I can do that as well. If I need to sit back in the Air Raid scheme, I can do that too.
JM: You’ve been versatile. What's the feedback you've gotten from teams about your size since the Senior Bowl? They had questions before the practices, but you addressed them. It really was a non-issue on the field in Mobile.
Willie Lampkin: They don’t care about my size as much as they used to. It’s no longer the concern it once was, before I went to Mobile. It may still be a concern for some teams, but a lot of questions were answered by me proving I could block those prospects regardless of their weight. The questions have definitely slowed down since then.
JM: Do teams see you being versatile enough to play center, or has the feedback mostly been at guard? You have experience at both.
Willie Lampkin: I’ve been hearing both, a mixture of both guard and center.
JM: What was your favorite play to run in the North Carolina playbook this past season? Something you got excited about hearing in the huddle?
Willie Lampkin: Definitely split zone and wide zone. Those were my favorites. I love being one-on-one with a defender. I want those one-on-one matchups. That’s where you get paid. You want to win those matchups. If I win eight out of 10 times, I won that battle.
JM: Have you met with any NFL teams throughout this process, and do you have any meetings coming up?
Willie Lampkin: I had a great virtual meeting with the Atlanta Falcons recently. At the Senior Bowl, I had great meetings with the Commanders, Steelers, Saints, Broncos, Seahawks, Ravens, Buccaneers, Browns and Chargers.
JM: There’s a lot of interest in you and it’s easy to see why. We've appreciated your time today. Why should a team use one of their draft picks on Willie Lampkin?
Willie Lampkin: You’re going to get a player who wants the best for the team. I want to win. I love playing winning football. I’m a leader. I’m willing to work every single day. I’m going to put my best foot forward every single day. Effort will never be an issue with me in the offensive line room.
I’m bringing tenacity to the next level. I always want to set the tone. That’s my mindset.
