What’s Your Story: Campbell’s Football Journey

MONROE, La. (KNOE) - Former Neville High School and LSU star Will Campbell has a major day ahead of him Thursday, April 24.

Will has the opportunity to be only the 10th local high school player selected in the first round of the NFL Draft.

Will’s mother, Holly Campbell says, “It’s really surreal watching his dreams unfold.”

Will wasn’t always known for his presence in the trenches.

When Will’s football career began many years ago, he used to play running back, he even described himself as “Jerome Bettis Jr.”

He would even tell his father Brian Campbell, “Dad, I’m not doing that. That looks boring.”

There was no denying that Will was born to block. As he grew into his size 17 cleats, college coaches started dropping by to see the next big thing.

One of Will’s High School coaches highlights his, “ability to accelerate, decelerate to jump. I mean he had a 36-inch vertical when he was here.”

The high school All-American was Louisiana’s top prospect and Will was determined to stay in state.

Brian said he was hoping that Will, “would start by his junior year and get a free education. Never in my wildest dreams would I think we would be going to the draft and sit in the green room.”

The LSU legend gave up only 5 sacks in 2,553 snaps in a 3 year collegiate career.

Will knows the work will truly start once his name is called. “It’s a short lived moment. It’ll be a short night, a quick night. Then the real work starts.”