Hurricane Campbell headed for Norman
OU offense's success starts with containing perhaps the best defensive end in the nation
Hurricane Campbell headed for Norman

By Jake Trotter

Published: September 4, 2007

NORMAN — Last Saturday, it took a quarter and three sacks for Marshall to realize it couldn't block Miami's defensive line.

So to negate the pressure, the Thundering Herd tried a screen pass.

Tried.

Miami mammoth junior defensive end Calais Campbell read the play as he released off a blocker, tipped the pass with one hand and intercepted it.

For Oklahoma to be successful Saturday, the offensive tackles will need to keep perhaps the best defensive end in the country away from redshirt freshman quarterback Sam Bradford.

"Calais has the energy and enthusiasm of a little kid,” Miami coach Randy Shannon said. "I tell my guys to play like that, running around in the sun all day, never worrying about getting tired, and your mom has to drag you inside to eat dinner.

"That's how Calais plays.”

Campbell may play like a kid, but he looks like a giant.

At 6-foot-8, he's one of the tallest players ever to attend Miami. For most of Saturday, he'll match up against the tallest player in OU history, 6-8 left tackle Phil Loadholt.

"That's the first time I've faced anybody my height,” said Loadholt, who does outweigh Campbell 350 pounds to 285.

Last season, Campbell earned all-ACC honors after leading the league in tackles for loss (20.5) and forced fumbles (3) and finishing third in sacks (10.5).

In high school, Campbell was recruited by a host of schools — including OU — after setting the Colorado state record for career sacks with 57.

NFL draft prognosticators have Campbell going as a top-five pick, if he decides to declare himself eligible after this season.

But because Campbell isn't alone on the defensive line, it makes it difficult for opposing offenses to consistently double-team him.

In fact, of Miami's six sacks against Marshall, Campbell didn't have one.

"They're some pretty athletic dudes, maybe the best we'll see all year,” right tackle Branndon Braxton said. "Campbell gets all the publicity because he's so big, but even the (backups) can play.”

The Hurricanes are so deep at defensive end with Eric Moncur, Vegas Franklin and Courtney Harris that Shannon occasionally will play all four ends on third down to augment his pass rush.

"They have a lot of speed,” offensive line coach James Patton said. "For our guys it ought to be a big challenge.

"We'll know what's coming and we'll prepare for it.

Miami's defensive strengths, however, don't stop with Campbell and the defensive front.

The Hurricanes returned all four starters in the secondary, including junior safety Kenny Phillips, who also is expected to be a top-10 NFL Draft pick.

Last Saturday, Miami picked off four Marshall passes.

"Their defense has excellent players up front you see flying around really causing a lot of trouble,” coach Bob Stoops said. "They're really solid in the secondary and at the 'backers.

"Guys who are really good players who make plays.”

Based on his performance this season, junior defensive end Calais Campbell could go down as one of the greatest defensive linemen in Miami history.

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