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Josh Heupel explains what makes OL John Campbell a key transfer addition
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Josh Heupel picked up a huge transfer this season in John Campbell.
The offensive line transfer from Miami has been the starting left tackle for the Vols this season, and he has helped lead Tennessee’s offense to an SEC-leading 1,774 rushing yards on the season.
Landing Campbell started with a classic Souther diner. Campbell explained early in his time at Tennessee that the campus’ proximity to Waffle House played a major factor in his decision to join the Vols. Heupel has yet to take his offensive lineman out for a late-night All Star Special.
“I haven’t made the late-night trip to Waffle House with him yet,” Heupel said during the SEC coaches teleconference Wednesday. “But during the recruiting process, that was something that he definitely cared about.”
Since coming to Tennessee, Campbell has stepped up as one of the anchors for the Vols’ offensive line. Heupel praised Campbell for his ability to adjust to Tennessee so quickly and for the impact he’s brought with him.
“Big John, he’s a great teammate. A transfer, the recruiting process happened pretty quickly,” Heupel said. “Sometimes you have a history with him, sometimes you don’t. John is a great teammate inside of this building. From the moment he set foot in this building, he competes extremely hard. He brings energy to whatever room he’s in. And he’s grown into a guy that really pushes the people around him in a positive way. There’s multiple instances of him gathering a teammate and having a talk with him and just he’s a dynamic player, obviously athletic and pass pro with the best of them, but he’s physical in the run game. He’s extremely bright. He’s a huge part of what we’ve been able to do up to this point up front and the success of this football team.”
Heupel is hoping Campbell can keep up his production through the end of this season. Tennessee is gearing up for a tough November slate, starting out with a homecoming game against UConn. After what should be a relatively easy matchup, the Vols will take on Missouri and Georgia in back-to-back weeks.
