BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Coming off an open date, Campbell (3-3, 2-2 CAA) returns to Barker-Lane Stadium this weekend, hosting first time opponent and CAA foe Maine (2-5, 1-3 CAA) for Homecoming. Kickoff is set for 4:00 p.m.

The game is presented by First Citizens Bank.

GIVEAWAYS
Orange rally towels will be available for the first 500 fans through the gates, courtesy of Christie Yarbrough and RE/MAX United.

Students attending all three CU home games on Saturday, including volleyball at 1:00 p.m., football at 4:00 p.m. and men's soccer at 7:00 p.m. will also receive a free hat for completing the Homecoming Challenge.

TICKETS
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.

THREE GAME MINI-PLAN STILL AVAILABLE
A three-game mini ticket plan for Campbell's two remaining home football games, plus its first ever trip to the University of North Carolina is still available for a limited time.

Tickets are available starting at just $85, and include Campbell's 2023 Homecoming matchup against Maine this weekend, October 21, CU's home finale against FCS top-10 ranked and CAA leader Delaware, as well as the road test against the Tar Heels.

Single game tickets also remain available for all three dates.

To purchase tickets, please visit GoCamels.com/Tickets, or call the CU Athletics Ticket Office at 1-877-GO-HUMPS.

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

PEPSI TAILGATE TOWN
The Pepsi Tailgate Town is Campbell's new football pregame experience, debuting at Barker-Lane Stadium for the 2023 season.

Come hang out with other Fighting Camel fans before the game in the tailgate lots between Barker-Lane Stadium and Stadium View Apartments, where Campbell will host activities for the whole family, including food trucks, inflatables, yard games, live music and face painting, as well as events from local businesses and organizations.

Also new to Campbell's football game day this season will be the Pepsi Camel Walk, greeting the team as they make their way to Barker-Lane Stadium. Approximately three hours before kickoff, the team will pass through the 421 Tunnel to be welcomed by the Sound of the Sandhills Band and CU cheerleading squad, as well as the Campbell community, friends and family.

Immediately after the Camel Walk, Tailgate Town will open for everyone to have a good time before the game.

WATCH / FOLLOW
Watch the Camels take on the Black Bears on FloSports, 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.

LAST TIME OUT
Campbell rolled up 440 yards of total offense and held off Hampton 30-27 on the road. CU snapped a two-game skid, also evening its CAA record, while handing the Pirates their first conference loss of the season.

Chris McKay, Jr. and NaQuari Rogers combined for 187 of CU's 202 rushing yards with two touchdowns. McKay ran for 97 yards on eight carries, including a 61-yard scamper, while Rogers ran for 90 yards on 29 attempts. Rogers, who rushed for 71 yards and a touchdown on 18 first half carries, also added 52 yards receiving on three catches.

Hajj-Malik Williams completed 14-of-21 passes for 238 yards with two touchdowns, both to Ezeriah Anderson, plus an interception. Anderson's two scores came on four catches with 45 yards, while Chaney Fitzgerald hauled in four passes for a game and career-high 107 yards.

Ed Dennis posted a pair of second half interceptions, while Cornelius Davis tallied a team-high eight tackles. Marquez Casey added seven stops, including one of Campbell's four stops for loss, while George Wilson recorded a sack, one of his four tackles on the day.

LEADING THE CAMELS
Campbell comes into this week's matchup with the ninth-ranked scoring offense in FCS, averaging 37.8 points per game, also ranking 14^th best in total offense nationally at 435.0 yards per game.

Hajj-Malik Williams owns the FCS' second best completion percentage at 74.2 percent, averaging 278.3 passing yards per game with 13 touchdowns and three interceptions. The redshirt senior QB has also rushed for four scores.

Williams has connected with 15 different CU receivers through six games, including 11 with multiple catches. Jalen Kelsey has posted a team-high 429 yards with two touchdowns on 24 catches, while VJ Wilkins owns a team-high 30 catches, going for 317 yards and four TDs.

NaQuari Rogers also owns six touchdowns on the ground, rushing for 399 yards.

Defensively, CJ Tillman has registered a team-best 54 tackles with 3.0 for loss, while Monchovia Gaffney owns 42 stops.

WILKINS NAMED TO RICE AWARD WATCH LIST
Campbell rookie VJ Wilkins has been named to the 2023 Stats Perform Jerry Rice Award watch list, which honors the national freshman of the year in college football's Division I subdivision and is presented by FedEx Ground.

The wide receiver is one of 22 FCS players on the midseason watch list, including one of four among CAA Football programs. The Rice Award, now in its 13th season, is named after legendary Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice. Past recipients include Cooper Kupp, Chase Edmonds, Trey Lance and Shedeur Sanders.

Wilkins is the fifth Camel to earn a spot on the Rice Award watch list, joining quarterback Daniel Smith (2017), wide receiver Caleb Snead (2018), quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams (2019) and linebacker CJ Tillman (2021).

The Pfafftown, N.C. native owns 30 catches for 317 receiving yards and four touchdowns this season, one of five CAA receivers with at least 30 grabs. Wilkins tacks on three rushes for 20 yards, adding 358 kick return yards with a 19.89 yards per return average.

Wilkins has been named the CAA Freshman of the Week twice already this season, most recently after hauling in a season-high 114 yards on 10 catches, adding a touchdown against Elon.

THE MATCHUP: MAINE
Maine is coming off a 24-13 nonconference win over LIU, suffering a 42-31 defeat in its last CAA matcup, coming on the road at Richmond.

Derek Robertson is averaging 220.9 passing yards per game for the Black Bears, tossing 10 TD passes. Joe Gillette has hauled in a team-high five TD catches, adding 428 yards on 29 catches, while Tristen Kenan has rushed for 312 yards with five touchdowns. Tyshawn Stewart leads a group of five Black Bears with 32 or more tackles, posting 39 stops.

Saturday will be the first matchup between Campbell and Maine.

NEXT UP
Campbell will be on the road for three of its final four regular season dates in 2023, heading to Richmond for the first time next week (October 28). The Camels will then travel to North Carolina on November 4 for its final nonconference outing, returning home for a November 11 date with top-10 ranked Delaware.

NORTH CAROLINA GAME SET FOR NATIONALLY TELEVISED NOON KICK
Campbell's November 4 football game at top-10 ranked North Carolina in Chapel Hill has been selected for a noon kickoff, broadcast nationally on the ACC Network.

The date will be the first meeting between the Fighting Camels and the Tar Heels.

ALUMNI & FRIENDS PREGAME TAILGATES SLATED FOR RICHMOND AND UNC GAMES
The Campbell Community is invited to join the Campbell Alumni Association for pre-game tailgating when the Fighting Camels travel to Richmond on October 28, and North Carolina on November 4.

At Richmond, southern favorites will be served, including beef brisket, chicken barbeque, and all the fixins. Full details and registration HERE.

When the Fighting Camels face off against the Tar Heels, the Campbell Alumni Association and Campbell Athletics will host pre-game tailgating fun, including games, delicious barbeque and all the fixins, compliments of White Swan BBQ (a proud member of the Orange Owned business network). Full details and registration for that date can be found HERE.

CAMELS FACE ONE OF THE STRONGEST SCHEDULES IN FCS
According to Stats Perform, Campbell faces the fifth toughest schedule in the FCS, based on 2022 Division I opponent records. CU's 2023 opponents, all Division I FCS or FBS, owned a 77-55 record (.583) last season.

Harvard owns the strongest 2023 slate, according to the metric at .648 (68-37), followed by Nicholls (.610, 83-53), Elon (.606, 80-52) and Cal Poly (.585, 69-49). North Alabama (.573, 71-53), Yale (.571, 60-45), ETSU (.570, 65-49), Central Arkansas (.568, 67-51) and Northern Arizona (.561, 74-58) round out the top-10.

TWO FORMER CAMELS OPEN SEASON ON NFL ROSTERS
For the first time, two former Camels appeared on active NFL rosters opening the 2023 season. Both matched up in their first career NFL game, with Brevin Allen's Los Angeles Chargers hosting Julian Hill's Miami Dolphins in week one.

Allen became the first Camel to play in an NFL game during the Chargers' season opener. After making the Dolphins' initial 53-man roster, Hill was inactive through two games due to injury, but made his NFL debut in Miami's record-setting 70-20 win over Denver, seeing time on 58 total plays.

Both signed as undrafted free agents after the 2023 NFL Draft following their Campbell careers, with Allen initially signing to the LA practice squad as an outside linebacker.

WILKINS, WILLIAMS RANK AMONG TOP FCS PERFORMERS BY PFF
With data through six games this season, Campbell's Hajj-Malik Williams and VJ Wilkins ranked among the nation's highest graded position players, according to PFF.

Williams ranks 15^th in all of college football and fifth among FCS quarterbacks, rating at a 90.9 offensive grade. Wilkins, meanwhile, stands as the top-graded FCS wide receiver and third overall in college football at 90.3.

Campbell's offensive line also rates as one of the best in the FCS, ranking No. 4 in pass blocking efficiency at a 92.9 grade, anchored by center Isaiah Burch, who owns the eighth-best individual pass blocking grade in FCS at 88.8.

CAMPBELL JOINS THE COASTAL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
Campbell University officially became a member of the Coastal Athletic Association in all sports on July 1, 2023.

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