Chargers Training Camp is rapidly approaching.
The team will host 17 open practices as they welcome fans back to The Bolt in El Segundo. (Note: two of the practices will be held at University of San Diego.)
The Bolts are looking to build on an 11-win season and playoff berth in Year 2 of Head Coach Jim Harbaugh, as the competitiveness has gone up another level throughout the offseason.
Chargers.com will take a look at each position group and battles leading up to training camp. The running backs are up.
Who's on the roster?
Najee Harris, Omarion Hampton, Hassan Haskins, Kimani Vidal, Jaret Patterson, Raheim Sanders
Camp Outlook
The Chargers running back room was one of the few groups that changed drastically from a season ago.
As Harbaugh and the staff continue to build out their vision for a physical, tough rushing offense, they brought in Harris, one of the most reliable running backs in the league.
The 27-year-old running back joined the Bolts in free agency and is only active player in NFL to have at least 1,000 rushing yards in each of the last four NFL seasons. He has also been as reliable as they come, appearing in all 68 games throughout his career.
One of the most respected ball carriers in the league, he has come in and been even better than advertised so far during the offseason.
"I'm kind of blown away," Chargers Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman said of Harris. "Just his energy, positive energy he brings and then watching him move on the field, his suddenness for a guy that big to be able to get out of things as quick as he does.
"I've watched him from afar and man he's a darn good player, but seeing him up close and personal and getting to know him, we're excited to have him," Roman added. "He's been kind of blowing me away in every sense."
He is joined in the backfield by the No. 22 overall pick in this past draft in Hampton, who lit up the ACC during his time at North Carolina.
Hampton rushed for at least 1,500 yards and 15 touchdowns in each of his past two seasons and was an integral part of the UNC offense.
The rookie now forms a duo with Harris that the team believes is a perfect fit.
"He brings that same type of mentality Najee brings. Like I said [before the draft], we're looking for someone who compliments but also offers the same," Chargers General Manager Joe Hortiz said following the selection of Hampton.
"I think he's going to fit right into that physical mentality with that speed and explosiveness as well," Hortiz added.
They've wasted no time getting to work and fitting right in, either.
"Right now it looks like, as my grandmother Marie Harbaugh would say, like peas in a pod," Harbaugh said of Harris and Hampton. "They are two peas in a pod."
Behind the two newcomers are a pair of returning players in Haskins and Vidal. Haskins served a limited role on offense but mainly saw his action come on special teams, while Vidal was able to score his first career touchdown and see action in 10 games during his first season.
Patterson also returns to the group after a number of years on the practice squad, while undrafted rookie free agent Sanders is the final member of the group.
Player to Watch: Omarion Hampton
Hampton won't be relied upon to carry the entire load of the backfield with Harris next to him — but there is a lot of excitement for what he can provide the team.
The rookie running back displayed it all during his time at North Carolina whether it was running the ball, catching it or blocking during pass plays.
And even with the pads not on yet, he's already left an impression on the staff so far.
"His willingness to do anything and everything to help our team," Harbaugh said when asked what has stood out about Hampton so far. "Hungry learner, listener and then go out and execute the instruction to the best of his ability.
"That comes from good parenting, it comes from good coaching, but we're the lucky ones to get a guy like Omarion," Harbaugh added. "He just does it day after day."
Perhaps one of the more intriguing areas to watch with Hampton is what kind of explosive juice he can add to the run game.
Hampton ranked third in college football last season with 45 rushes of at least 10 yards, according to Pro Football Focus, and had a long run of 75 yards.
The team will be able to get a little more glimpse when the pads come on, but there will be a lot of excitement every time No. 8 carries the ball once the season gets rolling.
"Omarion, I felt like he's the total package," Roman said. "His vision, which I'm really pleased with what I'm seeing out there right now.
"In the offseason the running game stuff, you got to be real quick to judge because you're not in pads and we're taking care of one another, we're working on some fundamentals," Roman added. "But his ability to, even in that situation, you don't see a lot of guys find the hole like he's doing right now. That's pretty exciting."
Key Question: What's the ceiling of the Chargers run game?
The Chargers run game had their moments a season ago, but a big part of the offseason was hoping to find a way to get more consistent in that area.
"Our running game last year was timely at times, I think we hit some really big runs and situationally we were pretty good at times," Roman said. "Overall though, it's not what we want.
"It's not the level that we want, and we knew that every step of the way," he added.
The rushing unit ranked 22nd among all teams in EPA per rushing play (-0.082) during the regular season and were in the middle in rushing yards and rushing first downs.
It's why the additions of Harris and Hampton, in addition to signing guard Mekhi Becton, could bode well for the physical rushing offense the Bolts are trying to achieve.
A great running game could spell great things for the pass game and the offense as a whole.
And with the caliber of players they now have in the run game, there's no telling what caliber of rushing offense the Chargers could reach in 2025.
"We're always working to get it there," Roman said. "How this group comes together, how they work, how they buy in, how they commit to that style of play, that mentality, we're going to have to wait and see how that all comes together.
"But I think we've really helped ourselves in some areas there," Roman added.
