College football: Army's Hampton accepts role as mentor
WEST POINT – It’s been a long time since Army linebacker Peyton Hampton was introduced to West Point on R-Day, the day all freshmen report to post and change their lives forever.
“You have to grow up real fast,’’ Hampton said. “When you come in, they shave your head and then send you out and, man, you’ve got to grow up that first day. Then from there on out it’s just a great molding experience.
“The purpose of this institution is to build leaders of character and I think they do a great job of that. To be part of that process and see it from the inside, it’s definitely changed me, changed who I am, and I am extremely grateful for this institution and the opportunity to come here,’’ he concluded.
An all-star in North Carolina high school football, Hampton said he came to West Point to serve his country, get a great education and the opportunity to play football. A lot of time has flown by, Hampton said, since his R-Day in the summer of 2019. He can vividly remember having his head shaved on that first day and thrust into an entirely new world.
Now, Hampton is a senior and one of the many helping the first-year plebes through the rigors of mixing football with academics and military training.
“I remember when I was in their situation,’’ Hampton said of the newcomers and second-year players still trying to make their mark. “I remember practice was just wild … I had no clue what was going on. It was going a million miles a minute. (You had to) get adjusted to the speed of the game. And then we’d put in a defense … we’d have new calls every day and I just remember barely getting the hang of one thing and now it's on the next and they're in the same boat. … It’s a big awakening.’’
Hampton said he enjoys being a mentor to younger players but he still has a job to do himself. He is vying for a role as a “mike” linebacker with several others. The coaches have worked with Hampton on body position and being in the right place to make plays and “not being out of control,’’ he said. Coaches have been stressing pass defense with the linebacker group, Hampton said.
“We've been coaching each other up, kind of making each other better but competing with each other at the same time,’’ Hampton said. “It's a great healthy competition … we all push each other and make sure we're trying to improve at the same time. We're competing with each other.’’
Football was never far away for the older cadets who utilize West Point for summer training.
“It’s been awesome to get out here with the guys, get back out after all the work in the summer,’’ Hampton said.
Now that the second full week of preseason camp has begun and the first scrimmage is out of the way, attention turns for some toward prepping for the Sept. 3 opener at Coastal Carolina while others begin to separate themselves in position battles on the depth chart.
“I really can’t believe it’s almost over,’’ Hampton said of his final preseason camp, which still has a full week next week and then game-week prep. “It’s kind of flown through but it’s been awesome to get out here with the guys, get back out after all the work in the summer and introduce the new guys into the program and kind of show them what we’re all about.’’
Army is coming off a 9-4 season, which included a bowl win over Missouri. The Black Knights have become a perennial winner under ninth-year head coach Jeff Monken, posting winning marks and making the postseason in five of the last six seasons.
“We’ve got a sense of urgency,’’ Hampton said. “(Camp has) been great so far, just a good experience.’’
Twitter: @KenMcMillanTHR
This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Army West Point college football NCAA Peyton Hampton mentor
