Willie Lampkin’s path to the NFL has always looked a little different, and now it has landed him on the Philadelphia Eagles’ 53-man roster for the 2026 season.
The former UNC interior offensive lineman, a fan favorite in Chapel Hill, got the kind of roster news that can turn a longshot into a real story. Zach Berman and Brooks Kubena of The Athletic reported that Lampkin made the Eagles’ initial roster after a strong training camp and preseason.
“Lampkin's impressive training camp and preseason earned him a roster spot,” Kubena and Berman write. “He's the shortest offensive lineman in the NFL at 5-11, but his balance, strength, and movement skills allow him to compensate for his lack of height at the position. He can help at center and guard.”
Lampkin has not yet appeared in an NFL game, and he entered the league as an undrafted player. Even so, the Eagles clearly see a player who can help, and he may wind up as one of the top backups along Philadelphia’s offensive line.
At 5-foot-11 and 290 pounds, Lampkin does not fit the usual mold for an NFL lineman. But that has not stopped him from winning over a fanbase, or from convincing the Eagles he belongs.
His college run at North Carolina helped set this up. Lampkin spent the 2023 and 2024 seasons with UNC, playing in 11 games in 2023 and 12 in 2024. He earned third-team All-ACC honors in 2023 and then moved up to first-team All-ACC in 2024 before heading to the draft.
After going undrafted, Lampkin signed with the Los Angeles Rams. That stint ended when the Rams waived him because of an injury, and the Eagles later brought him in.
UNC has sent several notable players to the NFL in recent seasons, including Drake Maye, Omarion Hampton, and Josh Downs. Lampkin now joins that list as another former Tar Heel getting his shot at the next level.
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