Karl Campbell visited Tennessee once when he was in high school and attended two of the Vols’ camps, but never really had the opportunity to receive a scholarship from them. Before the end of his junior year, they filled their desire for a long-term kicker with a signature Brent Cimaglia.
Timing was better for Tennessee and Campbell, a redshirt junior kicker at Indiana, when he announced last week that he was entering the transfer portal. The former University School of Jackson (Tennessee) standout announced Wednesday night that he has signed on to the Vols to fill their need for an experienced pitcher capable of replacing seniors Chase McGrath.
The 5-foot-9, 170-pound Campbell has been the Hoosiers’ main kicker for the past three years. After extensive discussions, he decided on Tennessee over Memphis and North Carolina Mike Ekelerthe Vols’ special teams coordinator and other members of the Tennessee head coach sophomore Josh HeupelEmployee.
Campbell, who has one remaining season, said he hopes to enlist in Tennessee next month. He didn’t need to revisit Knoxville to know he wanted the opportunity to finish his college career with the Vols.
“I made unofficial visits there in high school,” he told GoVols247 before publicly announcing his decision. “I spoke to some of the guys over there — some of the special teams guys, like Coach Ekeler and[specialteamsanalystkyle) blockers – and I really felt like I was a good fit with these guys.
“And it’s my home state, so I was really excited about everything.”
Memphis was the only other school to offer a scholarship to Campbell after he entered the transfer portal last week as a graduate transfer. He said North Carolina and the state of Iowa have also been in touch with him.
He said he was “orange shopping” with his girlfriend on Wednesday afternoon before announcing his engagement in a post on his Twitter account. He said he wasn’t a Tennessee fan growing up, but he does have a few family ties to his home state school.
“I really grew up not liking anything,” Campbell said. “But my mom was always in Tennessee, so I’ve known Rocky Top my whole life, so it’s really special.
(Photo: Courtesy of Charles Campbell)“My little brother goes there too. He’s a freshman so it’s really close to home for me.”
Campbell, who trained with the former Tennessee kicker James WilhoitHe was excited when Wilhoit recently informed him that the Vols were interested in adding a kicker from the transfer portal.
“I’ve heard of a few schools that could use foosball,” Campbell said. “And actually, James Wilhoitmy pedaling coach, he was the one who kind of told me Tennessee was looking for a grad transfer.
“When I heard that, I was immediately excited just to think of playing in Tennessee at all. And then things just worked out the way they did.”
Campbell made 39 of his 51 field goal attempts over the past four years in Indiana, hitting 76.4 percent of his kicks. He was also a perfect 73-to-73 on extra points.
He had 14 of 20 field goals that season, including a 51-yard long. He also hit a 53-yarder in 2020 and a career-long 55-yard attempt last year.
“I think what convinced me (Ekeler) was my field goals,” Campbell said. “I think they were looking for a points collector and I started out with the Big Ten for about three years. I’ve been on some of the biggest stages you can play in college football, and Neyland (Stadium) is no small stage. It’s also one of the biggest stages in college football, and I’m used to that. And I think that was a good selling point for me, for her. …
“I feel like what I do best is my longer kicks. If you look at my career, I’ve had a lot of field goals past 40 yards. And that’s where I excelled in Indiana and made my mark, it was those longer kicks — those 50-plus and 40-plus yard kicks.
With McGrath leaving the Vols after this season, Campbell becomes an instant favorite to replace McGrath next year. 2023 class foosball Max Gilbert from Lausanne Collegiate School in Memphis, Tennessee has also chosen Tennessee as their preferred walk-on.
“They said they wouldn’t give me anything,” he said. “I have to earn everything. But I’ll be the oldest kicker to come in I think unless something changes. Hopefully I’m the guy.”
Campbell said he “did a couple of kickoffs last year,” and the Tennessee coaches have “said I’m going to compete for that[job]too.” Senior Player Paxton Brooksthe current kickoff specialist of the Vols, is also in his last season.
(Photo: Xavier Daniels/Indiana Athletics)Despite his Indiana experience, Campbell said he decided to join the transfer portal this offseason in hopes of boosting his resume for a possible career in the NFL. He said he hopes to find a school where he can have “more kicks, more opportunities, and[get]more kickoffs and just more tape.”
“My goal is to play in the NFL and I love Indiana,” he said. “I love coaches (Tom) everyone and i love that they gave me an education. I will be forever grateful to them. But for me as a football player, it’s kind of difficult if you don’t get the opportunities that you would have at other schools.”
He knows what to expect in Tennessee, having attended a game there early in his high school career and later attended two Vols camps. After graduating high school, he played in the 2018 US Army All-American Bowl and was ranked the #9 kicker in the class of 2018 according to the industry-compiled 247Sports Composite.
“I think I played at Neyland once,” Campbell said. “That was around when I was a sophomore, so it’s been a while.
“I remember going there, I think it was the Tennessee-Kentucky game my freshman year. I think I was a freshman or a sophomore. I was on an unofficial visit and I remember how noisy the stadium was. I couldn’t believe how many people were there. But the only thing I remember from camp was the ball flying, so hopefully it’s still flying.”
Campbell said he looks forward to attending the same school as his brother and being back in his home state.
“Oh my goodness – I’m so excited for this,” he said. “My mum went to school there and when I told her the news she came to me crying, so happy for me and so excited to be going back to Rocky Top.
“I’m so excited to get on there and be on the best program in America. I am beyond looking forward to that and I hope to step in and do great things for the team.”