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Student-Athlete Profile: Taron Hampton
He came out of nowhere. Privately, in the Virginia State University football offices, there was a quiet buzz about this freshman running back from Powhatan, Virginia, that the Trojans had signed. "This kid is big time," Offensive coordiator Michael Morand whispered one day. Now, midway through the 2008 football season, the entire CIAA is talking about Taron Hampton. In three straight games, rushing for more than 100 yards, this 5-9 freshman technical engineering major believes that working hard in pre-season has truly gotten him his position on the field. Hampton brings a whole other meaning to the saying, “True Freshman.” In Hampton’s first career home game appearance, he scored three touchdowns and received 140 all-purpose yards against Johnson C. Smith University. He became the first Trojan to rush for three touchdowns in a single game since Robert "Bo" Morgan in 1995. Hampton’s main reason for attending Virginia State University was because of the tremendous love he received from the coaches, Hampton stated, “That was the biggest influence over my decision with choosing a school, the coaches made me feel as if I was at home.” As a starting running back, Hampton feels the biggest challenge is being that he is in his first season; he at times gets mixed up on some assignments. Hampton feels that over time, that will no longer be an issue. Unlike most athletes who set goals for themselves, he uses his team’s goal of having a winning season and winning the CIAA tournament as his motivation to become the best. Since playing with the Trojans, Hampton was recognized as the CIAA Rookie of the Week. Once hearing the news, Hampton felt that his hard work was finally paying off. Hampton dedicates his time on the field to his cousin and best friend who got killed just before he went off to school, “Live life to the fullest,” Hampton states. Hampton feels as though, one never knows what tomorrow holds, and if you should always give up everything in and off the field. |
by Bianca Warren