Why kicking at Neyland Stadium is different for Tennessee's Charles Campbell
Charles Campbell provided some perspective after Saturday morning’s Tennessee football practice, when asked about kicking at Neyland Stadium. Tennessee’s transfer placekicker said there aren’t any different dimensions in Knoxville.
“The uprights are the same distance they are at Neyland as they are on the practice field,” Campbell said Saturday, “so it’s about the same. I mean, I really enjoy it.”
Campbell enjoys it for a different reason. He grew up a Tennessee fan in Jackson, Tenn., and is now finally get his chance to represent his home-state Vols.
“It’s a great place to kick,” Campbell said. “It’s super fun. You know, you go in there and you get to look around at the big old stadium. So it’s super fun. I like it … It’s been nice to get in there a few times, understand a little bit and flows and I guess how to play the ball in there.”
Charles Campbell made five field goals of 50 or more yards at Indiana
Over the last four years with the Hoosiers, Campbell kicked his way to eighth in program history with 37 made field goals and 14th on the all-time scoring list with 179. He kicked five field goal of 50 or more yards during his career, second most in Indiana football history and had a long of 55.
He committed to the Vols on December 7, one of the first transfer additions for Josh Heupel after the end of the 2022 regular season.
Campbell was a Mr. Football finalist in the state of Tennessee as a senior in 2017 after being named All-State three times, was ranked as the No. 5 kicker in the 2018 recruiting class and was invited to the Army All-American Bowl.
“It’s important to him,” Tennessee special teams coordinator Mike Ekeler said in April, :and it’s neat to have someone from Tennessee who has this lifelong dream of playing here.”
‘I have a ton of pride in being here. I grew up wanting to go here’
He won’t be alone on campus with students moving in this weekend, including more members of the Campbell family.
“I have a ton of pride in being here,” Campbell said. “I grew up wanting to go here. My sister just enrolled here a few days ago. I have a little brother who’s gonna be a sophomore here and my mom went to college here. So it’s like I get to represent my family.
“And just for me, all my (family). I had a ton of friends in high school go here. I just couldn’t be more honored to represent my home state and really finish out my career. I’m just so grateful for the opportunity.”
