Omarion Hampton can feel football back in the air.
And he's more than ready to get things rolling again.
"I'm really just excited to start playing football," he said on Monday. "It's been so long since I last played football, so I'm just excited to play."
The No. 22 overall pick in this past year's draft has been getting right to it in his first NFL training camp as he's been carrying the load so far.
Hampton has felt prepared even with the quick turnaround, as he feels the spring made things feel much smoother when camp did arrive.
"I feel like it was good for the rookies being in OTAs, coming into it, minicamp," Hampton said. "It kind of got us ready for actual camp.
"I feel like when we went into it, we were ready and prepared for it," Hampton added.
Hampton said on Monday he isn't sure if he will play in the Hall of Fame Game later this week, or when his first NFL action will come.
But make no mistake, the rookie is ready for whatever is asked of him.
"It's up to the coaches," Hampton said. "Whenever they want to put me out there I'm ready."
Of course, he's been able to get a lot more reps with the first team than maybe was expected coming in with the absence of Najee Harris.
Harris remains on the Non-Football Injury list after sustaining a "superficial eye injury" during a fireworks mishap on July 4.
The veteran running back remains involved, however, and has been a major help for Hampton, who has attacked these reps head-on and used it as a chance to continue to grow.
"Just working as hard as I can," Hampton said. "[Harris] is still in the building, he's still in the meetings and stuff like that. He's got my back, too, if I need anything.
"Just going into it, taking it play by play, learning the offense, learning the defense," Hampton added. "Just taking it step by step."
That includes spending more time improving in different areas like pass protection, which is something the running back talked about after getting drafted.
Hampton said he's been getting ample work in that regard and continues to take strides as the days go on.
"Definitely took a big step in that," Hampton said. "I've been meeting with [running backs coach Kiel McDonald], he does a good job meeting with me and helping me understand it, knowing what's coming and stuff like that, how the protection goes.
"I feel like that's another big thing I took a focus on," he added. "I feel like I've grown in that area a lot."
Whenever his time comes to suit up, the rookie running back said he's ready to go — and he's looking forward to getting back to the mix of things.
"Just being in the locker room with the boys, running out the tunnel, knowing they got back, knowing I got their back," Hampton said. "That bond, that brotherhood, that feeling is just good."
Hampton later added: "I'm excited to do [break tackles], make some plays."
