NEWARK --
There's no secret about what Hofstra is going to do on offense
Saturday against the University of Delaware. The Pride will throw
and throw some more, hoping their run-and-shoot offense will leave
the Hens' secondary reeling.
UD free safety Kyle Campbell said he is ready. The sophomore has
started every game of his UD career, joining cornerback Sidney
Haugabrook as the only players on the team to have done so.
Yet Campbell hasn't done it with speed or strength. The
5-foot-11, 190-pounder has done it with a savvy that belies his
experience.
That was evident in UD's last game, against Maine on Oct. 2. The
Hens were clinging to a 43-38 lead with two seconds left when the
Black Bears lined up for one last chance at the Delaware 28.
Quarterback Ron Whitcomb lofted a pass intended for Christian
Pereira in the end zone. Pereira already had burned UD for nine
catches, 143 yards and two touchdowns.
But Campbell read Whitcomb, drifted back as Haugabrook kept up
with Pereira, and batted down the pass as time expired.
"We all knew he was having a big game, and that they would
probably be looking for him," Campbell said. "I just made sure I was
in good position. I was taught in that situation to knock the ball
down. So even though I probably could have gotten the interception,
I didn't want to take that chance."
Delaware secondary coach Paul Williams said understanding the
situation is easier said than done, especially for a free safety
who's only a sophomore.
But Campbell has always picked up the nuances of his position
quickly That is why he went from a walk-on sitting out as a redshirt
to a starter with a full scholarship before his first game as a
freshman.
"He's a student of the game," Williams said. "He just has those
natural instincts. He's not the fastest guy out there, or the
strongest. But he's smart, and he knows where he has to be. He's one
of those guys who everyone would love to have."
Williams said players like John Lynch, who played safety for
several years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and is now with the
Denver Broncos, and Eagles linebacker Mark Simoneau have endured in
the NFL because of their savvy.
Williams didn't want to compare Campbell to those players, other
than to stress that understanding the game can sometimes overcome
superior talent or athleticism.
"Kyle has had his ups and downs, but he studies the game so he's
always prepared," Williams said.
That goes back to Campbell's high school days in Kennesaw, Ga. He
was headed to Navy after deciding to spend a post-graduate season at
the Naval Academy Prep School in Rhode Island.
But midway through that school year, in the spring of 2002,
Campbell changed his mind. It was too late to get an athletic
scholarship. On the way home from Rhode Island, Campbell and his
father stopped at Delaware with a tape.
UD coach K.C. Keeler had just gotten the job, and didn't have any
scholarships available. Neither did the other schools that Campbell
visited, like William & Mary and Southern Illinois. Campbell
decided to come to Delaware anyway.
"I knew I could play," Campbell said. "I just wanted to see how
far [college football] could take me."
It has taken him to a national championship as a freshman. And on
Saturday, it will take Campbell to Hofstra, where he and his
teammates will face a pass-happy offense that has already surpassed
60 points twice this season.
"To me, it doesn't make that much of a difference," Campbell
said. "It's a little more challenging, but I think we'll do well.
We'll be ready."
Contact Martin Frank at 324-2805 or mailto:mfrank@delawareonline.com
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