2025 NFL Draft interview: North Carolina OL Willie Lampkin

WCG’s lead draft analyst spoke with the first-team All-American.

JI: What would you say your time at Coastal Carolina did to prepare you for North Carolina and the NFL?

WL: It was a great time at Coastal. What I learned at Coastal was to be prepared for any moment. I was a true freshman. I went into college, and I didn’t think I would start. No freshman thinks that they will start. When somebody had opted out, I got my opportunity. Ever since then, I’ve always wanted to be prepared for every opportunity that I got. Especially going back to the Senior Bowl, I got the late call. Going back to Coastal, I always know I have to be ready for the opportunity.

JI: When you were making that transfer over to UNC, what was that transition period like?

WL: Man, at first, bro, it was crazy. I was like, “man, it feels like a movie.” I mean, it was tough at first, because I was at Coastal for so long, but I got adjusted, talking with the guys. They were cool. The coaches were decent, but just building a relationship with the players. My teammates, those are my guys. I love those guys. [I was] building on having a relationship with them, keeping my head down, trusting in God, trust in the process.

JI: You guys are a hot topic now that you landed Bill Belichick. What did you think of that move?

WL: Oh, brother, it’s insane. I really feel like they can go to the CFP. That’s what we were missing at UNC was a coach that was about business. That’s what we have missed. I feel like with Belichick in there now, I feel like he’s about to get them boys right.

JI: You were a state champion in wrestling in high school, which I love. From your perspective, how does that experience help you in the trenches?

WL: I’ll say wrestling definitely helps with your leverage, your hand placement, and just having that attitude. Before I wrestled, I used to work hard, but there’s nothing like working hard in the wrestling room. It definitely changes your mentality.

JI: I’ve heard stories about how intense those wrestling practices usually are.

WL: It’s brutal. Those practices used to be crucial, bro. It was so bad. I used to have to run like two and a half miles, two miles every day.

JI: You had the chance to make it out to the Senior Bowl. What did that mean to you to not only get the invite, but to perform as well as you did?

WL: It’s a blessing, because I really didn’t think I would get the opportunity. Just being out there, talking to the NFL coaches, talking with those guys who I’ve never seen before...the players who we were competing against, some of those guys I’ve never seen; I’d just heard of them. Being out there with them, it was...