Willie Lampkin

Early life

Willie Lampkin was born on January 22, 2002, to Kyera Joyce and Willie Lampkin Sr. He is from Bealsville, Florida, and attended Mulberry High School for his first two years of high school. While at Mulberry, Lampkin competed in wrestling. After his sophomore year, his mother lost her job, causing him to move in with his father in Lakeland, Florida for financial reasons. As a result, Lampkin attended Lakeland High School for his final two years of high school, where he continued wrestling along with playing football. While at Lakeland, he helped lead the football team to a state championship in 2018 and won the state championship in wrestling his senior year with an undefeated record on the year. Lampkin committed to Coastal Carolina University to continue playing football.

Coastal Carolina

As a freshman, Lampkin started all twelve games at left guard for Coastal Carolina. After the season, Lampkin was named a second-team All-Sun Belt player and was on multiple outlets' freshman All-American team. During his sophomore year, Lampkin switched to left tackle, starting all thirteen games and once again being named to the second-team All-Sun Belt team. Before the start of his junior year, Lampkin was announced as a member of the Rimington Trophy preseason watchlist. During the year, Lampkin again started all thirteen games and was named a first-team All-Sun Belt team member.

North Carolina

After the 2022 season, Lampkin transferred to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he would continue playing football. In his first year at North Carolina, Lampkin started all eleven games and was named a member of the third-team All-ACC team. After being granted an extra year of eligibility, Lampkin returned to North Carolina to play a fifth year of college football. Before the season, Lampkin was named to the first-team All-ACC team. At the midway point in the season, Lampkin was named to multiple outlets' All-American teams. Following the regular season, Lampkin was named to the first-team All-ACC team and was awarded the Jacobs Blocking Trophy, given to the most outstanding blocker in the ACC. Additionally, Lampkin was named a first-team All-American by multiple outlets.