The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE Duke Blue Devils split their first two games of the 2012-13 NCAA football season and August Campbell is already staking a claim as a prominent member of the defensive unit.

Campbell has recorded six tackles, one fumble recovery and one quarterback hurry in his first full season at the helm of the defensive secondary. He began the season with a career milestone in the Blue Devil’s 46-26 season opener over the FIU Golden Panthers.

Campbell recovered a fumble late in the second quarter for the second fumble recovery of his career.

Leading 27-14, Campbell recovered the turnover, which led to a Blue Devils score and a three possession game as they pulled away. He also finished the game by matching a career-high with five tackles and the fourth quarterback hurry of his career.

It was the second consecutive win for Duke who now leads the all-time series with FIU, 2-0 after a 31-27 win on the road in 2011.

In game two, Campbell and the entire Blue Devils’ roster struggled in a 50-13 loss at Stanford. He totalled just a single tackle in the loss.

Next up for the Blue Devils is a home game against North Carolina Central 7pm September 15 at Wallace Wade Stadium in Durham, North Carolina.

Campbell started the year as one of two returning safeties despite the fact that he missed spring drills while recovering from shoulder surgery.

Coming into the season, his 24 career games included eight starts, 43 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one interception, one fumble recovery and three quarterback hurries.

The 6’3”, 235 pound defensive back also owns the school record for longest fumble return with a 95-yard touchdown return against Boston College in 2010.

Campbell is a sociology major with a minor in theatre and is also pursuing a certificate in markets and management studies.

As a true freshman in 2009, Campbell was granted a hardship waiver after a shoulder injury sidelined him for the final eight games of the year.

In his redshirt sophomore season he played in a total 10 games including two starts.

After a mid-season switch from linebacker to safety, he finished with 10 tackles, two for a loss, one sack and the aforementioned fumble recovery.

In his junior season, Campbell played 11 games and saw his starts increase to six after firmly entrenched in the safety role.

He finished with 31 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, one INT and two quarterback pressures and had a career-high five tackles on two occasions, against Richmond and North Carolina.

His best overall performance thus far came in a win over Tulane when he finished with three tackles, 2.5 of which were for a loss and one interception.

Campbell finished the season strong with 17 tackles over the final four weeks of the season. He originally left Freeport on a baseball scholarship to attend Christ School in North Carolina.

At Christ School he was a three-year letterman, a three-time all-conference and two-time all-state pick.

In his senior season he totalled 91 tackles, four sacks, three fumble recoveries and two interceptions while scoring four defensive touchdowns.

He helped Christ School to consecutive state playoff berths both in 2007 and 2008 and posted career totals of 237 tackles, 16 sacks, seven interceptions and seven fumble recoveries while scoring six defensive touchdowns on four interception returns and two fumble returns.