Character issues and all, NFL Draft puts Victor Hampton at crossroads

Victor Hampton has had his share of character issues off the field. While that’s hurt his NFL Draft stock, it’s not too late for change Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

A few days ago, we reported that former South Carolina Gamecocks teammates Victor Hampton and Kelcy Quarles were cleared of any wrongdoing in a New York City club brawl that later led to the stabbing of fellow Gamecock Chaz Sutton. But it was the latest in a few situations where Hampton wasn’t always on the right side of the rules.

It began back in 2008, when Hampton was nailed with a disorderly conduct charge for swearing at a police office at a Charlotte mall. Those charges were dropped.

Then came an arrest in 2010, literally days after he had signed an NLI to play in Columbia. Hampton was booked for underaged drinking and later released. (This was after being booted from Charlotte’s Independence High School for several transgressions there; coupled with his academic issues, that led Florida to pul back its recruitment of him.)

A year later, in summer 2011 (after missing most of spring because of grades), he was kicked off the football squad (and later reinstated before ultimately being hit with a three-game suspension) for a violation of team rules–what those particular rules were are unknown. Hampton wasn’t happy with the decision and responded with a profane tweet when he heard the news.

Fast forward to 2014, when before the incident in New York, Hampton was arrested–again–after an argument with his sister that got so out of hand that authorities had to be called in to settle things down. The two would later be released.

Did we mention that he was fourth on the Gamecocks with 51 tackles in 2013? That kind of thing decreases in the light of things like I’ve mentioned.

That’s not to say he can’t change, though. He stayed largely out of trouble after being kicked off in 2011 and turned into a solid defensive player for the Gamecocks. And while he has made his share of mistakes in the past, the upcoming NFL Draft provides another crossroads for him. It’s up to him and him alone to decide if he’ll let those mistakes define him, or make the choice to turn over a new leaf and become a strong, mature player (and person) that he is surely capable of being.