ROCKINGHAM — J.D. Lampley’s name is on a list of some of the most sought-after defensive football recruits in the nation for the class of 2022.
And that’s fuel to the fire for the Richmond Senior High School junior defensive tackle, who continues to see his recruiting stock rise during the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Nov. 8, Lampley participated in the Stack Sports Regional Showcase in Virginia Beach. The final leg of a five-stop nationwide combine series, the invitational event ended with Lampley earning an 81.84 overall rating.
A day before Thanksgiving, Stack Sports released its “Regional All-Defense Team,” which Lampley and 11 other players were named.
Players from all five locations, which included Chicago, the San Francisco Bay area, Los Angeles, Portland and Virginia Beach, were considered for the team.
“It means a lot to be recognized and I was excited to make the list,” Lampley, who is 6-3, 292 pounds, said. “This honor shows that my hard work is paying off. I’m there to prove myself and what I can do on the field.
“I’m grateful for this opportunity because it gave me something football related to do and the chance to showcase my skills.”
Lampley, who started at nose tackle for the Raiders as a sophomore, was accompanied on the list by several other top recruits in his graduating class. Among them were Beau Atkinson (Leesville Road High School, Raleigh), Cyrus Moss (Bishop Gorman High School, Las Vegas), and Eoghan Kerry (Mater Dei High School, Santa Ana).
Milton Swinnie, who is Richmond’s defensive line coach, said Lampley’s naming to the Regional team is a sign of his progression since he joined the Raiders as a freshman.
“Over the past two years, we’ve watched him grow from a very large 14-year-old pup into a very good and serviceable guy up front for us,” Swinnie said. “One thing that comes to mind is how well he’s progressed against the run and pass.
“J.D. had an innate ability to penetrate the line because of his mass, but as the weeks progressed, he was able to read and react at a high level, while having great technique. He can rush the passer, as well as match the hand of the quarterback.”
Lampley (95) pressures Cardinal Gibbons quarterback Andrew Harvey during a 45-28 win on Sept. 13, 2019.
At the Showcase, no one-on-one or team drills were conducted due to COVID-19 protocols. Lampley’s score was based on his individual performance in the 40-yard dash, the 20-yard shuttle, the power ball toss and vertical jump.
Lampley impressed with a stat line that included a 40-yard time of 5.4 seconds, a 28.5 inch vertical and a distance of 39 feet in the power ball toss.
Ronny Torres, a scout at the event, tweeted that Lampley “should climb recruiting boards” based on his numbers.
“The defensive coaches all thought he had a solid showing at the Stack Sports Regional Showcase,” Swinnie shared. “His measurables and results were spot on to what we believe will help us throughout the upcoming season.
“Seeing he’s currently 16, we expect he’ll continue improving, and get bigger, faster and stronger as he continues to work and maintain his stellar GPA. We feel with his drive and determination that the sky’s the limit for him and he’ll be a great asset to any program that’s an ideal fit for him.”
According to 247 Sports, Lampley is a three-star recruit heading into his junior season. He has a composite rating of 83.16 and is the state’s No. 21 ranked player of all positions in the class of 2022.
Lampley has already received offers from East Carolina, Liberty and South Carolina. He said that he’s also received interest from Coastal Carolina, Duke, Harvard and Wake Forest.
The current coronavirus restrictions in place by the NCAA prohibit Division I coaches from meeting face-to-face with future college players through April 15, 2021. Despite the lull in live recruitment activity, Lampley is making the best of the situation, like many of his teammates.
“The recruiting process is good even though we can’t go on visits right now,” he shared. “I’m trying to stay active and work to get better. I work out every day and hope to get better this spring. I’m really thankful for the opportunity to be recruited.”
According to MaxPreps, in 12 games played for the Raiders last year, Lampley recorded 25 total tackles (11 solo, 14 assists). He had two tackles for loss, one quarterback sack against Hough High School in the second round of the playoffs and hurried quarterbacks eight times (including three against Myers Park High School in the third round).
Swinnie noted that Lampley possesses “unique traits” as a high school defensive lineman that helped the Richmond defense have a lot of success last season. The d-line coach highlighted Lampley’s power, explosiveness off the snap and quickness.
“He plays with great leverage and his hands are extremely heavy and violent,” Swinnie explained. “We teach all of our guys to play with the ‘speed of violence’ and he was able to accomplish that a great deal last season.
“With his athleticism and agility, at that size, he’s able to play an outside shade on the guard or over the center. That versatility allows us to be able to have certain situational calls in place.
“Without a doubt he’s a great kid, student and player, and his parents have done a wonderful job in preparing him.”
Lampley and the rest of the Raiders will play a shortened season starting in February. The team’s first practice will be Feb. 8, followed by three weeks of practice and its first game at Purnell Swett High School on Feb. 26.
