What’s In a Word – Charles Campbell Seeks Kicking Perfection

By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - What's in a word?

It depends on the word, and for Indiana -- almost -- can't-miss kicker Charles Campbell, that would be "courageous."

"My first year I came in and I was a little hesitant with college football," he says. "I had all these accolades and I felt like I missed an opportunity that I could have taken and seized."

Why would a guy who has made 12-of-13 field goals and 26-of-26 extra points in his Indiana career say that?

Let's take a brief dive into history.

Campbell was almost ridiculously good in high school, earning Tennessee all-state honors in football and soccer at University School of Jackson.

He was rated as the nation's No. 5 kicker by Rivals, a national Internet recruiting service. He was a 2017 Tennessee Mr. Football finalist, totaled 237 career points, had a 50-yard field goal, a 61-yard punt, and earned All-America high school honors.

Then he came to Indiana and things got complicated.

Griffin Oakes was finishing up an All-Big Ten run that included 56 field goals and 292 points. Campbell seemed poised to take over. He was, in fact, recruited for that purpose.

Instead, veteran Logan Justus won the job and made 32-of-39 field goals over two years.

"Logan beat me out my first fall camp and the second one," Campbell says, "and I feel it was my mental more than my physical."

However, when Justus struggled against Purdue in the 2019 regular season finale, Campbell came in to make a key late 41-yard field goal that helped the Hoosiers win in overtime.

Last year was all Campbell. He made 10-of-11 field goals and all 25 of his extra points. He made field goals of 50 and 53 yards in the Outback Bowl loss to Ole Miss.

Oh, yes. He also earned All-Big Ten honors for kicking and academics.

"I did well last season and I want to back it up. I don't want to think of exactly all the things I did last season leading up into this season. I just want to go out there, do what I know how to do, and be confident in myself and my ability. If I do that, I think that I'll make more kicks than I miss, so that's pretty much why I chose courageous."

Campbell wants to be better this year, and if that means perfection, well, you can't achieve it if you don't believe it.

"I had a good season last season, but it's last season. You've got to move forward.

"I did miss a kick and obviously I don't want to do that, so in this offseason -- this summer and fall camp -- I've been working on getting ready with a new holder, Chase (Wyatt), and just getting the operation down and being as consistent as possible."

Special teams coach Kasey Teegardin pushes improvement and perspective as part of head coach Tom Allen's overall special teams emphasis.

How do you motivate a guy who has missed just one kick in his college career?

Start with that all-conference recognition.

"He's a very confident young man," Teegardin says, "but you've got to remind him that this season is a brand-new season. He was second-team All-Big Ten last year, he was not first team."

If that seems nit-picky, it doesn't make it any less true. Nebraska's Connor Culp was the first-team kicker after making 13 of 15 field goals.

"You want something to strive for and a goal," Teegardin says. "Obviously, he wants to be first-team All-Big Ten.

"I think Coach Allen Allen does a tremendous job of keeping our guys levelheaded and challenging them. Just because you get these preseason accolades doesn't mean anything for this year. It's great, but it's based off what you've done in the past. What are you doing now? What are you doing in the present?"

And then Teegardin answers those questions.

"You've got to play in the present every day. For (Campbell), he's a confident kid, but he's very levelheaded. He's not arrogant. He just goes about his business and his job.

"For him, it's just a constant reminder that this is a new season. Just like the Indiana Hoosiers are 0-0. The (No. 17) preseason ranking is great, but how are we going to finish?"

Kicking field goals can be like putting in golf. You keep things simple and distraction free.

In the end, it's about trust -- in yourself, your snapper, your holder, your blockers. It's about mental toughness and ignoring doubt, distraction and pressure.

It's about, well, going blank.

"I'm not thinking about technique," Campbell says. "I'm trying to simplify it. The most simple thing you can do is not think."

Allen and Teegardin put a huge emphasis on all phases of special teams. What does that mean for practice?

"Practice is long," Campbell says. "We had a long practice (Thursday), and you can't kick the entire time.

"On the sideline, I'm trying to take mental reps, trying to put myself in a situation of 'what would this kick be like or what would that kick be like' and trying to feel the flow of practice.

"Coach Allen does a great job creating game-like situations during practice, so I really just try to visualize myself in a game making kicks or in a game trying to not feel anxious going out there for a long field goal for the win."

Adds Teegardin: "We have periods in practice where we know (special teams might get called). So, guys are just sitting on edge. (Allen) may call you and he may not."

In other words, Campbell and the kicking team must be ready to go at any moment.

"We try to put them in those game situations as much as possible just for the mental stability of things," Teegardin says.

"Campbell is ready to answer when called upon. We try to create those opportunities throughout practice as much as we can."

Campbell hopes to add kickoff duties to his responsibility list. He pushed hard in the weight room to make that happen.

"I love kickoffs," Campbell said. "You just get up there, smoke the ball and try to kill it."

For a moment, "courageous" is replaced by another word that best sums up why he plays the game so well.

"I approach kickoffs as having fun."

What’s In a Word – Charles Campbell Seeks Kicking Perfection

Players Mentioned

Charles Campbell

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