Tennessee offensive tackle John Campbell announces return for 2024
Veteran offensive tackle John Campbell was a hot commodity last off-season when he left Miami and entered the transfer portal. After choosing Tennessee over Florida, Campbell headed North to Knoxville and became a pivotal piece of Tennessee’s offense. Campbell
The veteran offensive tackle announced his intentions to return to Tennessee on Monday night via an edited social media video on Twitter, featuring Josh Heupel and Nico Iamaleava.
— John Campbell #LLL (@_jcamp74) December 5, 2023
Campbell spent five years at Miami before transferring to Tennessee, so normally he would not have had a decision to make, but he was eligible for return due to the COVID eligibility waiver.
Campbell started at ten games at left tackle for the Vols this fall and was one of Tennessee’s most productive offensive linemen. His efforts against Kentucky earned him SEC offensive lineman of the week.
Following the honor, Tennessee Head Coach Josh Heupel was complimentary of his starting left tackle’s growth.
“He’s grown through the season, and he’s continued to improve,” Heupel said. “Being named Co-SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week, that is great recognition for him on how he’s played this week and also on how he’s played throughout the course of this season. He plays extremely physically. He finishes. He looks and plays the part of a Tennessee offensive lineman.”
What Campbell has said about his time at Tennessee
“It’s a crazy difference,” Campbell said about the difference in atmospheres between Miami and Tennessee on Vol Club Confidential . “At Miami we didn’t really have any fans. They got all those big things down there with events. Here it’s just straight football. Going to those games like the blackout or the checker was crazy. Seeing all those different color squares up there but it was a crazy experience being out there and hearing the fans. They get real loud.”
He has also been highly receptive and appreciative of the instruction he has received from Glen Elarbee.
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“Coach Elarbee I give my hats off to him,” Campbell said. “He has taught me a whole bunch of stuff with defenses. Just making players smarter. I feel like he can coach anyone to be better. He is just letting them know they don’t know. He is a great coach. He is a wizard and he schemes that thing up. He has it down Pat and it’s great to have a coach like that.”
A look at his Path to Tennessee
2022- In 2022, Campbell solidified himself as one of the best pass protectors in the ACC. He started in 12 games at left tackle for the Hurricanes.
2021- Campbell was sidelined for the duration of 2021 after undergoing leg surgery.
2020- During the COVID season, Campbell started in four of Miami’s seven games. He started to settle in more as an offensive tackle during this season.
2019- During his redshirt freshman campaign, he broke into the starting rotation for the Hurricanes. He played all over the front, including earning starts at left guard and right tackle. He played in 11 games as a sophomore.
2018- Campbell signed with Miami as a member of the 2018 recruiting class. He went on to play in four games as a freshman and received a redshirt.
