On3 Consensus 5-star, UT signee Devon Campbell: "I feel like we can do something special up front."
After Texas signed six of the top offensive linemen in the Class of 2022 six weeks ago, Arlington (Texas) Bowie five-star OL Devon Campbell was the bow on a beautifully-wrapped NSD present for Kyle Flood and the Longhorns.
The No. 12 overall 2022 prospect according to the On3 Consensus picked the Longhorns over Oklahoma, Alabama, LSU, USC, and Georgia, He joins fellow O-line signees Kelvin Banks, Neto Umeozulu, Cameron Williams, Cole Hutson, and Connor Robertson.
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At 6-foot-3 and 325 pounds, Campbell also plays post in basketball and throws the shot put and discus for Bowie’s track and field squad. He’ll be ready to roll in Austin in June.
“(Texas) was one of the first big schools that recruited me,” said Campbell. “The messages from both staffs (Herman and Sarkisian) were the same really, but the new staff with Coach Sarkisian consistently showed me the most love. I was a real priority for them, and the love never changed.”
Out of all the coaches in the country who recruited Campbell, Flood might have been the difference-maker in earning the five-star’s signature.
“Coach Flood is a great coach,” said Campbell. “(The message) was I’m needed there. Big priority for this class, and hopefully make a big impact.”
“Coach Flood did an awesome job building a relationship with him outside of football and that goes for a lot of other coaches on the Texas staff, too,” Bowie head coach Joseph Sam added. “He’s big on trusting you. They tried to learn about him outside of being a football player. Lots of coaches miss that on kids and they focus on the football side. They want to show how they can help you as a football player, but these guys talked about helping him as a person. Those guys took the time out to get to know him more as a person.”
Campbell’s relationship with Texas didn’t surprise his head coach at Bowie.
“In the world of college football today where coaches are leaving left and right, whether they’re fired or pursuing better opportunities, the thing that gets lost is the relationship piece,” said Sam. “Kids don’t go to a school because of a name. Devon went to Texas because of the people at the school.”
This process began over three years ago and the Metroplex star is happy for his recruitment to be finished.
“Really, I’m glad it over,” Campbell explained. “It was really stressful. I’m glad it’s over and I’m ready to work.”
What’s it like coming into potentially the best offensive line haul in the nation for this cycle?
“I feel like we can do something special up front,” Campbell said. “Neto from Allen, that’s one of my main guys. BJ Allen, Savion Red, X’Avion Brice. Really tight with all the guys.”
