With Miami LT Nelson out, Campbell hopes to solidify No. 1 spot. ‘I’m playing my heart out’
Coach Mario Cristobal definitely didn’t want big John Campbell to be an afterthought as fall camp was about to open at the University of Miami. And Campbell, who said Thursday he’s playing his “heart out,’’ believes he won’t be.
The 6-5, 320-pound fifth-year redshirt junior tackle has persevered through his share of painful times, but after missing all of last season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, Campbell is back in a critical role as Miami prepares for the Sept. 3 season opener against Bethune-Cookman. With projected first-round draft pick Zion Nelson still not practicing as he recuperates from arthroscopic knee surgery, Campbell could be the man to protect vaunted quarterback Tyler Van Dyke’s blind side in the opener.
Campbell was asked after practice if coaches have communicated to him what it would mean should Nelson return sooner than later.
“If he comes back, I feel like it’s open competition.,’’ Campbell said. “Everybody is just competing. I’m playing my heart out right now, doing what I have to do for me to be a 1 [starter].”
Is he ready to be a swing man if that becomes his role?
“I’ll do whatever Coach wants me to do,’’ Campbell said. “...I’m pretty good. I know this game pretty well. [Offensive line] coach [Alex] Mirabal does a great job in the film room giving the guys knowledge and teaching us ins and outs of plays and schemes and where to be and what to do.
“You never know what the future looks like. I’m just trying to put my best foot forward and do what’s best for my team and best for myself.’’
Cristobal indicated he has plenty of confidence in Campbell, who graduated from Orlando Dr. Phillips High in 2018 as the nation’s 19th best lineman, according to Rivals.com.
“We expect John to be one of the best players in the conference and eventually in the country,’’ Cristobal said of Campbell, who lost 20 pounds that he had gained after surgery. “We think that highly of him because he has a lot of the same physical traits as Zion. To be a great lineman you’ve got to have those traits. You have to have resiliency. No matter what gets thrown at you you’ve got to deal with it and move forward.
“But he has all those physical traits and it’s combined with the intangibles of a guy that can show toughness and resiliency and fight through tough moments and be in tough situation and come through. The position that those guys play, it comes with a lot.’’
That, it does.
About one year ago, Campbell tore the ACL just before fall camp began.
“Before I got hurt I felt like it was the best offseason I had,’’ Campbell said. “I had everything put together. Then, I fell doing some drills. But the injury probably made me stronger, my loved ones pushed me and I’ve come out even better.
“I feel real comfortable at left tackle.”
Campbell was limited during spring, participating in individual drills but held out of team contact situations. He has started before. As a redshirt freshman in 2019, Campbell made his first career start at right tackle in the season opener against Florida. He started at left guard against Louisiana Tech in the Independence Bowl that season.
In 2020, Campbell had four starts in his seven games, all at left tackle.
When Nelson returns, Campbell could switch to right tackle, which would likely put DJ Scaife back at right guard, where he excelled in 2021. Left guard Jalen Rivers, who missed most of last season with major knee surgery, got close to Campbell when the two rehabbed together. “We’re like two peas in a pod,’’ Campbell said. “Every since he came here he’s been just a great guy. It’s good to have somebody like that next to you, somebody you can trust, somebody you know is going to be in the right spot when you need him to be.
“Our offensive line is real special. I mean up front we got a real experienced line that knows what we’re doing — and we got coaches really pushing us.”
The line includes veteran center Jakai Clark.
“We’re going to keep tyler upright,’’ Campbell said. “I’m ready.”
This story was originally published August 18, 2022 at 1:07 PM.
