Brian Kelly opens up on where Will Campbell has improved the most at LSU

Will Campbell arrived on campus at LSU ahead of the 2022 season, the same as head coach Brian Kelly. Heading into year three with the Tigers, Kelly has seen some major improvements in Campbell’s game

To Kelly, the biggest change hasn’t come on the field, however. He’s earned the respect of his peers in the locker room and has become a locker rooms leader entering his junior year at LSU.

“Will was not a man for many words, and he still isn’t. But when he speaks, he really resonates with our team,” Kelly said. “And I think he’s done that more and more. He’s made his opinions known to our football team. I think that that growth has been really good for him, and it’s been really good for us because when you have a guy like that who is so respected by his teammates, when he speaks people really listen.”

On the field, Campbell is expected to be a major factor on the offensive line, manning the left tackle position for the Tigers. Of course, that comes after earning First Team All-SEC honors as a Joe Moore Award finalist. Teaming up with Emery Jones at the tackle spot, Tigers quarterback Garrett Nussmeier figures to be one of the best protected quarterbacks in the country next season.

Campbell is also one of four returning starters from last season’s offensive line that helped lead quarterback Jayden Daniels to a Heisman Trophy. Guards Garrett Dellinger and Miles Frazier also return to help protect Nussmeier and aid in LSU’s rushing attack. Campbell is expected to be at the forefront of that effort.

“His craft is such that we’re asking him to do some things this year that he hasn’t done before,” Kelly continued. “We’re pulling him, moving him. We’re much more of an inside, outside zone team. We’re pulling him a lot more, we’re moving him. I think that that’s going to just heighten who he is as a football player and give him a chance to really, I think, excel at the national level and in the eyes of NFL scouts.”

Campbell will put his skills on display for LSU when the Tigers begin their season on Sept. 1 against the USC Trojans in a highly-anticipated Week 1 matchup in Las Vegas. Matchups against South Carolina and UCLA will also provide ample competition for Campbell and company all before Week 5 of the regular season.