He didn’t post loud statistics during his freshman season and suffered an injury that took him off the field for half the season, so it’s easy to overlook Quan Hampton when listing potential playmakers for a Kansas football offense that has been stuck in neutral for several years.
Yet, something about the way he moved when healthy indicated he had potential to develop into an exciting playmaker. Hampton showed speed, quickness and agility on his way to 21 catches for 145 yards (just a 6.9-yard average) as a true freshman last season.
In the second game of his college career, Hampton had six receptions for 67 yards, one rush for 13 yards and 22-yard kick return in a 45-27 loss to Central Michigan.
His favorite play came that week.
“It came on a corner route,” Hampton said. “I showed people I could jump.”
Listed at 5-foot-8, 170 pounds, Hampton acknowledged he’s closer to 5-7, but the former high school basketball player added that his height doesn’t prevent him from dunking. He is the one throwing it down with back to the basket during warmups here:
Convinced @_Shortman10 is not human?? pic.twitter.com/7dnj7tybZL
— Tye Shelton (@Tyeshelton23) November 30, 2016
“I was a junior in high school the last time I had my vertical measured,” Hampton said. “It was 40 inches.”
Hampton started in the slot the first six games of last season and will compete again for one of the starting inside receiver positions. He also is in the mix as a return man for punts and kickoffs.
“I got injured halfway through the season, so I wasn’t able to keep on playing but I feel like the experience that I got when I did play I learned a lot from and it will carry over to this season,” Hampton said.
An extra year in the weight room will enable him to get more of the 50-50 balls that he was able to gain possession of a year ago.
