BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Campbell will kick off the 2022 season at home on Thursday night, September 1, hosting The Citadel at Barker-Lane Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m.

WATCH / FOLLOW
Watch the Camels take on the Bulldogs on ESPN+, and listen online at GoCamels.com or through The Varsity Network app. Live stats are also available at GoCamels.com, and follow on Twitter @GoCamelsFB for live updates.

TICKETS
Season and single game tickets for Campbell's home football games remain on sale at GoCamels.com/Tickets and via phone at 1-877-GO-HUMPS.

As always, Campbell students receive free admission at the gate with their CU ID.

Complimentary 12 and under youth admission is available with purchase of adult ticket(s) at GoCamels.com through the new Future Camels initiative, courtesy of the Fighting Camel Club.

CLEAR BAG POLICY
Campbell University Athletics implements a clear bag policy that regulates the size and type of bag that may be carried into Campbell Athletics facilities, including Barker-Lane Stadium. Fans are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the new policies before arriving at the venue to minimize time spent searching bags at security checkpoints.

Bags that are approved include:
• Clear tote bags made of plastic, vinyl or PVC that do not exceed 12″ x 6″ x 12″
• One-gallon clear plastic zip-style bags
• Small purses or clutch bags that do not exceed 6.5″ x 4.5"
• Medical or diaper bags must be accompanied by a child

Bags are that not permitted include:
• Backpacks
• Printed pattern or tinted plastic bags
• Drawstring bags
• Fanny packs
• Camera or binocular cases
• Large purses or bags

EXPANDED CAMEL RUN TRADITION RETURNS TO BARKER-LANE STADIUM IN 2022
Campbell University Athletics has announced that the popular Camel Run football game tradition experience for undergraduate students will return to Barker-Lane Stadium / Ed Gore Field for the 2022 season.

Students will have the chance to sign up for the weekly Camel Runs, by class, in the weeks leading up to every home game. The runs will be limited to the first 100 students who sign up. Each student who runs on the field will receive a special memento from the Fighting Camel Club, noting the experience.

Early arriving students will also receive a tshirt for the game.

CAMEL RUN SCHEDULE
Sept. 1, The Citadel (6:00 p.m.) Freshmen | CU First-Year Students
Oct. 1, NC Central (6:00 p.m.) Sophomores
Oct. 8, Charleston Southern* (4:00 p.m.) Juniors
Oct. 15, Robert Morris* (1:00 p.m.) Alumni + Kids 12 & Under (Fall Break) Details to be announced
Nov. 12, Gardner-Webb* (1:00 p.m.) Seniors

CAMELS BEGIN 15TH SEASON OF MODERN ERA
In 2021, Campbell produced three FCS All-Americans, including Big South Defensive Player of the Year Brevin Allen, who posted a record-setting season with 17.5 tackles for loss, highlighting a bevy of talent returning to Buies Creek.

Campbell returns eight starters on offense and six on the defensive side from the 2021 team, including QB Hajj-Malik Williams, a 2019 freshman All-American and 2020 Big South Preseason Offensive Player of the Year.

Also coming back are All-Big South performers in tight end Julian Hill and offensive tackle Tyler McLellan, as well as 2021 freshman All-American linebacker CJ Tillman.

Last season, Campbell ranked fourth in the FCS in turnovers gained (25) and defensive touchdowns (4). On the offensive side, the Camels led the Big South in passing offense at 261.6 yards per game, ranking 22nd in the FCS, setting a school record for passing yards (2,901) and passing touchdowns (24) this season.

The Camels began their modern era of football in 2008, competing at the NCAA Division I FCS level, first in the Pioneer Football League (2008-17), and now as a Big South Conference member (2018-present).

Campbell originally fielded a football team from 1925 until 1950, suspending play from 1940-45 due to World War II, winning five North Carolina junior college state championships (1929, 1932, 1939, 1946, 1948).

THE NATION'S NO. 1 FCS RECRUITING CLASS
During the offseason, Campbell hauled in the No. 1 ranked incoming freshmen recruiting class in the FCS. Campbell's incoming 2022 class includes 19 incoming freshmen, with 12 rated as three or four star recruits, as well as one two star prospect.

Headlining the class are a pair of four star safeties, in Myles Rowser (Detroit, Mich. / Belleville HS) and Edric Weldon (Miami, Fla. / South Broward HS), who carried a four star ranking by Rivals prior to an injury early in his senior season. The pair are among the top recruits in their class to sign with Football Championship Subdivision programs, headlining Campbell's No. 1 incoming freshman class in the NCAA's subdivision.

The Camels' class finished 78th in Rivals and 89th according to 247 Sports, as the only FCS program to finish in the top-100 of college football recruiting rankings.

SCOUTING THE CITADEL
The Bulldogs are coming off a 4-7 2021 season, going 3-5 in Southern Conference play. Picked eighth in the 2022 Preseason SoCon Coaches Poll, The Citadel returns 15 starters, including 10 on the defensive side of the ball, including Preseason All-SoCon defensive back Destin Mack, who posted five interceptions with 45 tackles, two pass breakups, a pair of blocked kicks and a fumble recovery last season.

The Citadel will jump into SoCon play next week, hosting ETSU, the first of eight league matchups in 2022 for the Bulldogs.

FIRST TIME OPPONENTS
Campbell will face off against a whopping eight first time opponents over the course of the 2022 season, including in each of its first four contests, and all six of its nonconference foes.

Since the 2018 campaign, which coincided with the program moving to the Big South, CU has already faced 14 first time opponents, with that number set to balloon to 22 by the end of the season.

CU will square off against The Citadel (September 1), William & Mary (September 10), East Carolina (September 17), North Carolina Central (October 1), Jackson State (October 22), North Carolina A&T (October 29), Bryant (November 5) and Delaware State (November 19) for the first time.

Of Campbell's 2022 opponents, the Camels have met Charleston Southern the most in their relatively brief history (since 2008), with five all-time meetings.

CU PICKED SECOND IN BIG SOUTH PRESEASON POLL
Campbell has been picked second in the 2022 Big South Conference Preseason Poll. With a pair of first place votes and nine total top-three votes of a possible 12, the Camels finished with 50 points, just behind North Carolina A&T, which finished with six first place tallies and 60 points.

Following the Camels were Charleston Southern and Gardner-Webb in a tie for third with 44 points. Big South newcomer Bryant (33 points) and Robert Morris (21) rounded out the poll. Five of the six league members picked up at least one first place vote.

Campbell's second place preseason nod is its highest since moving to the Big South in 2018. CU was picked fourth in 2019 and 2020, also taking fifth in 2018 and 2021. Campbell was never voted higher than fourth in a preseason poll in its previous conference, the Pioneer Football League (2008-17).

2022 BIG SOUTH PRESEASON POLL
SCHOOL (FIRST-PLACE VOTES) - POINTS
1. North Carolina A&T (6) - 60
2. Campbell (2) - 50
T-3. Charleston Southern (2) - 44
T-3. Gardner-Webb (1) - 44
5. Bryant (1) - 33
6. Robert Morris - 21
Note: Points are based on a weighted system, with first-place votes receiving 6 points, followed by 5 points for second-place, and so on.

ALLEN NAMED BIG SOUTH CONFERENCE PRESEASON DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Campbell defensive end Brevin Allen has been named the 2022 Big South Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, headlining 10 CU selections on the league's preseason team.

The Camels' 10 selections leads the conference.

Quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams, tight end Julian Hill and offensive tackle Tyler McLellan, all 2021 First Team All-Big South picks, as well as special teamers in punter Corey Petersen, long snapper Jackson Hayes and Josh McNeely, who was voted to the preseason squad as both a kick and punt returner, all joined Allen on the 2022 Preseason All-Big South team, while offensive tackle Mike Edwards and safety Dorian Jones were honorable mention picks.

Allen is coming off an All-American season for the Camels in 2021, leading the Big South in sacks (9.5) and tackles for loss (17.5), while ranking in the top-20 nationally in both categories.

The 2021 Big South Defensive Player of the Year was also a finalist for the Stats Perform FCS Buck Buchanan Award, setting a Campbell single season record for sacks, while tying the program single season mark in stops for loss, adding 44 total tackles with a fumble recovery, a pass breakup and six hurries.

During the 2022 preseason, Allen has been named to the initial Buchanan Award watch list, as well as preseason All-America by Stats Perform, Phil Steele and HERO Sports.

2022 BIG SOUTH FOOTBALL PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS
PRESEASON ALL-BIG SOUTH FIRST-TEAM
OFFENSE
QB Hajj-Malik Williams, R-Jr.
TE Julian Hill, Gr.
OL Tyler McLellan, Gr.

DEFENSE
DL Brevin Allen, R-Sr.

SPECIAL TEAMS
P Corey Petersen, Gr.
KR Josh McNeely, Gr.
PR Josh McNeely, Gr.
LS Jackson Hayes, Gr.

HONORABLE MENTION
OL Mike Edwards, R-Sr.
DB Dorian Jones, Gr.

PRESEASON DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Brevin Allen, R-Sr., DL

CAMPBELL TO JOIN COLONIAL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION IN 2023
Campbell University has accepted an invitation to join the Colonial Athletic Association in all sports the league sponsors effective July 1, 2023.

Campbell will remain a member of the Big South Conference for the 2022-2023 season before making the move.

The addition of Campbell in 2023 will increase CAA's membership to 14 schools, joining new members North Carolina A&T, Hampton, Monmouth and Stony Brook as schools that have all joined in the last year. CAA Football will consist of 15 teams beginning in 2023.

The conference encompasses many of the nation's largest metropolitan areas with a geographic footprint that stretches from Boston to Charleston. It has produced 18 national team champions in five different sports and 33 individual national champions.

Campbell joined NCAA Division I in 1977 and became a charter member when the Big South Conference was formed in 1983. Campbell joined the Atlantic Sun Conference in the summer of 1994 and competed in the ASUN 17 years before returning to the Big South in the summer of 2011.

After a five-decade absence, Campbell resumed football competition in 2008 as a member of the Pioneer Football League. Campbell moved up to competition in Big South football in 2018.

NEXT UP
Campbell will head to future conference opponent William & Mary on September 10. Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m. at Zable Stadium in Williamsburg, Va.

The Camels will then head to East Carolina on September 17 before returning to Buies Creek on October 1, hosting North Carolina Central.