Dominique Hampton has paid the price.

Now, it’s time to profit.

Hampton — a fifth-year defensive back from Glendale, Arizona — played sparingly at cornerback in his first three seasons in Seattle before finally switching to safety last spring. His 2021 season was derailed by a drive-extending taunting penalty in a 31-10 loss at Michigan on Sept. 11; Hampton was relegated to special-teams duty for the next four games.

“If we have some mental missteps with poise, there’s always going to be a price to pay,” former head coach Jimmy Lake said of Hampton’s predicament on Sept. 20. “And now you have to earn your trust back, and when that trust is earned back, then more playing time will be given.”

Hampton re-entered the rotation in the second half of the season and made his first three starts against Stanford, Oregon and Arizona State. He finished with 30 tackles, two pass breakups and a forced fumble in 11 games.

The penalty cost him playing time but provided perspective.

“I learned I have to keep my cool and I can’t let the outside affect what’s in here,” Hampton said after Washington’s first spring practice on Wednesday, pointing to his head. “I’ve got to keep what’s in my head calm, cool and collected. I learned that from 44, Bookie (Brendan Radley-Hiles). He told me that last year. ‘Calm, cool and collected, and you’re going to be all right.’”

Of course, the physical aspect has never been an issue. At 6 foot 3 and 216 pounds, Hampton has the size to convincingly stuff the run and the speed to competently cover wide receivers.

And at his third position in the last five seasons, Hampton will have to prove it.

“It’s sort of a linebacker/corner hybrid,” Hampton said of UW’s new “husky” position, which replaces a traditional nickel. “So you’re going to be covering the slot receiver a lot. But you’re also going to need to get in the run fit and tackle the running back.”

Hampton said, when co-defensive coordinator…