Rams Draft Appalachian State LB Nick Hampton With No. 161 Pick

The Los Angeles Rams needed to add bodies to their defense via the NFL Draft this weekend, and on Saturday in Round 5, they did just that, selecting Appalachian State linebacker Nick Hampton with the No. 161 pick.

Hampton will come in hoping to replace the loss of Leonard, as the Rams try to rebuild at all levels of the defense, and add production to their pass rush.

Over five seasons with Appalachian State, Hampton was ultra-productive finishing his career with 175 tackles, 40 tackles for loss, and 26.5 sacks, with six forced fumbles and four passes defended.

Hampton was part of a defense that pulled one of the biggest upsets in college football this year when Appalachian State beat Texas A&M in College Station.

In his final season with the Mountaineers, Hampton played just nine games but finished with 39 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks. His best season was in 2021 when he had 68 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks.

You can view the full scouting report on Hampton from NFL Draft Bible here:

Overdrawn limbs with length for days. Rare athleticism for an edge defender. Exhibits remarkable burst and speed off the edge. Agile and fluid lower body that keeps him clean en route to the quarterback. Pace scares tackles, leading to oversetting and inside tracks to the ball. Hand usage is impressive, swipes at initial placements and redirects before then can counter his move.

Routinely beats tight ends across face, showing unmatched speed. Suitable tackler that shows discipline against the option game. Silky hips and length that permit him to drop into coverage. Does so easily, adding versatility to his resume. A constant motor will retrace and run down plays boundary to boundary. Slender frame for an edge defender. This leads to issues when faced with size and or power.

Finds trouble against larger tackles who can enforce at the point of attack. Shows bend but a lack of ankle flexibility can leave him stranded at times. Works a variety of moves but size discrepancy prevents a bull rush from being one of them. Can be antsy pre-snap, multiple offside alignments. Hampton is a rare blend of length, speed, and motor. With the only sizeable issue being a lack of power and mass, if Hampton comes back with added lean tissue and the propensity to win engagements, look for his name to be one you hear a lot come the pre-draft process.

You can follow Matt Galatzan on Twitter @MattGalatzan

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