Will Campbell, Emery Jones shining bright for LSU
Brian Kelly has been a head coach for more than 30 years, and across that many seasons, he’s seen just about everything.
Still, this year brought a first.
Thanks to a pair of true freshmen on the offensive line, Kelly is watching a rare feat that not only isn’t prevalent in the Southeastern Conference, but anywhere in college football.
Campbell, Jones landed in the record book in a hurry
For the first time in LSU football program history, the Tigers started a pair of true freshmen at offensive tackle in Will Campbell and Emery Jones.
And not only did they set the mark as the first true freshmen tandem at the tackle spot, but they’ve held down starting spots as LSU works through the SEC schedule.
“I don’t think I ever have (seen it before),” Kelly said on Monday. “32 years, 33?
“I don’t believe I’ve ever started two freshmen, period, on an offensive line. But, to have two tackles in the SEC is quite unusual.”
Campbell grabs SEC honors, but road bumps are still expected
Following LSU’s win over Florida, Campbell was named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week, driving home the reality of how good of a start the On3 Consensus five-star prospect has had out of the gates.
Toss in the emergence of a former Top 100 prospect in Jones, who was being used primarily as a guard before shifting to tackle, and it’s all the more impressive.
For Kelly, ups-and-downs are expected for a true freshman, and even more so at offensive tackle, where Campbell and Jones match up each week against some of the nation’s best edge rushers.
But it’s the ability to move forward, like a veteran, that Kelly said make the pair of Tigers different than most every other freshman you’ll come across as a coach.
“They have the physical (ability) because you cannot play in this league unless you have physical traits,” Kelly said. “These (defensive) guys are too fast, too big, too strong. They’ll walk you back to the quarterback if you’re not physically strong enough.
“Emery Jones and Will Campbell, physically, have the traits to go in the weight room and be as strong as anybody that we have, and are able to move their feet to obviously get out and set these guys.
“They’re going to miss a couple. We got beat inside on a couple of times that they counter-moved us.
“(But) these guys are extraordinary in their ability to move on to the next play. They focus and then refocus. Their mental approach to the game is so far above any freshman that I’m used to having. They generally have that look in their eyes right about now that they’re done. (But) these guys are anxious for more. That’s unusual.”
