By Hunt Palmer
(The quotes in this story come from Will Campbell’s interview with Matt Moscona on After Further Review on Tuesday)
Will Campbell has flown more over the last two months than at any point in his life.
Next week Campbell will travel to Green Bay, Wisc., to complete the pre-draft process. Thursday night, he’s likely to hear his name called in the first round, and his professional career will commence.
He’s ready.
“This is something that I’ve worked for my whole life, so I try not to look too far ahead,” Campbell said. “I try to stay in the present, stay where my feet are. But it’s the back end of the process. Everybody’s tired. Everybody’s ready to just be back to what we’re used to doing, and that’s playing football.”
Campbell has played at an elite level for three all-American seasons at LSU. The four-month draft leadup always presents questions and scrutiny. Campbell’s arm length became a story at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis last month.
In his numerous meetings with NFL teams, it hasn’t come up.
“They all kind of ask me what I think about the media saying that,” Campbells said. “I’m just kind of like, it doesn’t really bother me. Because at the end of the day it doesn’t really matter. You’ve got to find something to critique.”
Because of that measurable, so analysts insist Campbell will have to move to guard in the NFL. He’s been a tackle his entire life including his three years at LSU where he won the job after a handful of spring practices.
Campbell sees himself as a tackle, but he’s open to a move if it presents opportunity.
“I’m going to do whatever I’ve got to do to help my team win, bring back the Super Bowl,” Campbell. “Most teams see me as a tackle. Two or three see me as a guard, but that’s because they’ve got Hall of Fame tackles. They want me to play next to them, and when they retire, then I move out to tackle. It just depends on the situation. Regardless of where I’m playing, as long as I’m on the field, doing my job and winning games, that’s all I care about.”
The New Orleans Saints are presumed to be looking to fortify their offensive line. That effort may come in the later rounds. It may come with the ninth pick.
Campbell, a native on Monroe in northeast Louisiana, has followed the Saints since childhood though he wouldn’t consider himself a die hard fan.
“My dad, every year he would take us to an LSU game on Saturday, and then Sunday we would drive down to New Orleans to watch the Saints,” Campbell said. “But I’m not the guy that’s going to cry if they lose like some of y’all in south Louisiana. But I do support them, being a Louisiana boy.”
So, what if the Saints called his name in the first round?
“That would be really special for me and my family,” Campbell said. “This state has done so much for me and my family, everybody in my support system. So, to be able to represent not only me and my family but my state and that organization, it would mean a lot to me.”
Campbell will be playing on Sundays in the fall. He leaves behind massive shoes to fill, as does the departure of three of his fellow starters–Emery Jones, Miles Frazier and Garrett Dellinger. While he’s been traveling to see different teams and working out in preparation for his professional start, Campbell has spent time at LSU’s spring practices.
Tyree Adams figures to step in for Campbell at left tackle.
“Tyree’s a great dude, been there with me for two years. He’s a freak athlete, a good person. He learned. Every day I tried to teach him as much as I could. Same with Miles Frazier. We all tried to invest in the younger guys so that when we left they didn’t skip a beat. I feel like he’s stepped up into a role where he’s kind of an alpha in the room. The younger guys are looking to guys like him and DJ Chester, guys that have been there and seen what it takes.”
What figures to help a fresh offensive line is a fifth-year player at quarterback–Garrett Nussmeier.
“The biggest thing is they have a quarterback, Garrett,” Campbell said. “To win any game in professional or college, you’ve got to have a dude at quarterback…and then you throw in the other pieces they got in the portal, it just adds on. I’m excited for them. I have a close relationship with a lot of the guys on that team.”
Watch the full interview with Matt Moscona of 104.5 ESPN’s After Further Review.
