LSU Offensive Lineman Will Campbell Hitting Stride, Earns Prestigious Accolade

Campbell has been named the Outland Trophy National Player of the Week, in a groove for the Tigers.

Sep 14, 2024; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; LSU Tigers offensive tackle Will Campbell (66) warms up before a game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Kinser-Imagn Images / Scott Kinser-Imagn Images

BATON ROUGE –- LSU offensive tackle Will Campbell had the highest pass blocking grade of any offensive tackle in the Tigers’ 34-17 win over UCLA. For his standout play in one of the weekend’s most-watched intersectional games, Campbell has earned the Outland Trophy National Player of the Week honor for games played the weekend of Sept. 21, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

This is the second season for the FWAA to select an Outland Trophy National Player of the Week as part of the NCFAA’s weekly national honors from 13 awards. The recipient of the 2024 Outland Trophy will be announced on The Home Depot College Football Awards, live on ESPN on Dec. 12. The official presentation to the winner will be made at the Outland Trophy Awards Dinner sponsored by Werner Enterprises and produced by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee in Omaha, Neb., on Jan. 22, 2025.

The weekly winners are added to the preseason Outland Trophy watch list going forward. Campbell is on the FWAA’s preseason Outland Trophy Watch List.

Campbell had a 90.1 pass blocking grade as LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier threw for 352 yards in a clean pocket. On 44 pass attempts, Campbell allowed no pressures from his left tackle position and was never beaten as Nussmeier completed 32 passes and threw for three touchdowns without an interception. LSU had 27 first downs and 454 yards of total offense.

The 6-6, 320-pound junior from Monroe, La., graded over 80 in both his pass- and run-blocking as LSU dominated the second half after a 17-17 tie at the intermission. The Tigers opened the second half with a pair of 90-plus yard touchdown drives, putting the game away. It’s the first time since 2003 LSU has had back-to-back scoring drives of 90 yards or more.

It was the first time that Campbell was over 80 in both grades this season, and helped Nussmeier earn a share of the SEC’s offensive players of the week.

Campbell, a preseason All-America selection by a host of publications as well as a first-team All-SEC choice by both the coaches and media, is the most experienced offensive lineman at LSU with 29 career starts.

He was honored by the team by being selected to wear No. 7, the jersey given to the best playmaker on the team who calls Louisiana home and designated for a player who brings up others around him. Campbell earned the jersey designation last season as well. Rules prevent an offensive lineman from wearing No. 7, thus Perkins wears the 7 jersey, and Campbell wears No. 66 with a No. 7 patch on it.

Campbell is one of four linemen up front for the Tigers with at least 25 career starts RG Miles Frazier [28], RT Emery Jones [27] and LG Garrett Dellinger [25]). Campbell and Jones are arguably the nation’s best offensive tackle tandem. Since joining the Tigers in 2022, Campbell and Jones have been on the field together for 1,822 snaps.

Campbell is also active in community service, leading the Tigers team in work at the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank. He has been nominated for other college football awards representing service to others.
LSU hosts South Alabama in its final non-conference game Saturday at 6:45 p.m. and on the SEC Network.

The Outland Trophy winner is chosen from finalists who are a part of the annual FWAA All-America Team. The FWAA All-America Committee, after voting input from the entire membership, selects a 26-man first team and eventually three Outland finalists. Committee members, then by individual ballot, select the winner. Only interior linemen on offense or defense are eligible for the award; ends are not eligible.

The Outland Trophy, celebrating 79 years since its founding, is the third-oldest major college football award. Created in 1946 when Dr. John Outland presented the FWAA with a financial contribution to initiate the award, the Outland Trophy has been given to the best interior lineman in college football ever since. Dr. Outland, an All-American at the University of Pennsylvania in the late 1890s, eventually took up practice in Kansas City, Mo. An avid outdoorsman, Dr. Outland believed linemen did not get the credit they deserved and wanted an award to recognize them.

More LSU News:

Instant Takeaways: No. 16 LSU Takes Down UCLA 34-17 in Big-Time Victory

What's Next for LSU Without Harold Perkins?

Nick Saban Calls LSU Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier a "Sleeper" Ahead of 2024 Season

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