No, it isn’t a typo or misprint. North Carolina offensive lineman Willie Lampkin is really, 5’10 and 270 pounds. A size that would’ve been expected in 1960 seems unfathomable for 2025. But Lampkin has proven he can hold his own. He’s a prospect who shouldn’t be figuratively or literally overlooked, and the Steelers are doing their homework.
In an interview with The Draft Network’s Justin Melo, Lampkin listed the Steelers as one of several teams he had a “great” Senior Bowl meeting with.
In Mobile, Lampkin tipped the scales at 5103, 270 pounds. But his arm length, a critical factor in evaluating size, came in at a passable 32-inches. It’s Lampkin’s play that does the talking, meeting the moment every time there’s been competition concerns. Beginning his career at Coastal Carolina, he transferred to North Carolina to start the last two years for the Tar Heels. In 2023, he was named Third-Team All-ACC.
At the Senior Bowl, Lampkin wow’d. First, as a curiosity. Second, as a true draft prospect. He held his own against Kentucky’s Deone Walker, a man twice his size, and shined in 1v1 reps throughout the week. It wasn’t perfect but it was better than anyone expected.
Lampkin’s strengths and the Steelers’ scheme mesh.
“Definitely split zone and wide zone,” he told Melo of his favorite run schemes. “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.”
Bread and butter of Pittsburgh’s running game. Our scouting report on Lampkin, one of the roughly 300 we’ve written so far, looked past the scale. Jonathan Heitritter gave him a fifth-round grade, floating a positional swap and concluding:
“He will likely have the opportunity to compete for a backup center job that may mix in as a lead fullback in certain packages. His lack of ideal measurables will need to be counteracted by his technique and use of leverage, but he should find his way onto a roster as a backup at worst, with the outside chance to eventually start for a team.”
Per the interview, Lampkin said teams are viewing him as a center or guard. Perhaps there could be situational fullback work. The more you can do, the better. Pittsburgh once tried that with a squatty body in Kendrick Green. But without being able to play on special teams, a full-time switch to fullback is a difficult sell.
As is keeping him along the offensive line. Just as Florida NT Desmond Watson sits on the other end of the spectrum, the biggest d-line prospect ever, Lampkin is the modern era’s smallest. NFL comps are difficult. Jonathan used Jason Kelce and Randall McDaniel as the closest ones, but both men were clearly larger. Mercer’s Jason Poe is the closest one out there. Part of the 2022 NFL Draft, he weighed in at 6005, 300 pounds at his Pro Day. Still inches bigger and 30 pounds heavier, but Poe had the same fullback-thinking lines in his scouting report. Undrafted, Poe has spent time with multiple teams but has yet to take an NFL snap.
Even though he’s shorter, Lampkin will aim higher.
