BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Campbell (1-1, 0-1 CAA) will travel to Monmouth (1-1, 1-0 CAA) on Saturday, September 16, for its CAA road opener. The Camels and Hawks are set to kick off at 1:00 p.m. at Kessler Stadium in West Long Branch, N.J.

WATCH / FOLLOW
Watch the Camels take on Monmouth 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.

The game will also be carried on SNY and NBC Sports Philadelphia Saturday, in the No. 1 and No. 4 television markets in the country with the broadcast reaching more than 10 million homes.

LAST TIME OUT
Hajj-Malik Williams passed for three touchdowns and ran for two more, leading Campbell on the road over The Citadel 56-7. Campbell picked up its first win of the season, taking its road and nonconference opener, and topping The Citadel for the second straight season.

The Camels rolled up 611 yards of total offense, third most in a single game and a school record against an NCAA Division I opponent. CU passed for 348 yards, its sixth highest ever total in a single game, adding 263 yards rushing.

Campbell also surpassed 50 points for the eighth time in its modern history (since 2008).

Williams passed for 348 yards, his third career 300-yard game, completing 25-of-33 passes with three touchdowns, connecting with eight different receivers. The QB tacked on 45 yards rushing and two touchdowns on eight carries.

Campbell scored touchdowns on its first three drives, jumping out to a 21-0 first quarter lead, finding the end zone on eight of its 10 offensive possessions.

WILLIAMS, WILKINS NAMED CAA PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
After an offensive outburst in a week two win at The Citadel, Campbell's Hajj-Malik Williams and VJ Wilkins have earned CAA Football Player of the Week honors.

Williams took home CAA Co-Offensive Player of the Week, accounting for five touchdowns in Campbell's 56-7 victory, while Wilkins was tabbed Freshman of the Week, finding the end zone for a second straight week.

New Hampshire running back Dylan Laube shared CAA Offensive Player of the Week honors with Williams, while Monmouth linebacker Jake Brown was named Defensive Player of the Week, and William & Mary kicker Caden Bonoffski collected Special Teams Player of the Week accolades.

Williams passed for 348 yards, his third career 300-yard game, completing 25-of-33 passes with three touchdowns, connecting with eight different receivers. The QB tacked on 45 yards rushing and two touchdowns on eight carries.

Led by Williams, who piloted Campbell to touchdowns on its first three drives and eight of its 10 total offensive possessions, the Camels rolled up 611 yards of total offense, third most in a single game and a school record against an NCAA Division I opponent. Williams' 348 passing yards are the sixth most ever total in a single game, while the team added 263 yards rushing. Campbell also surpassed 50 points for the eighth time in its modern history (since 2008).

Through the first two games of 2023, the Atlanta native has completed 47 of his 58 passes (81.03%) for 579 yards and four touchdowns.

Wilkins hauled in a game-high seven catches for 73 yards to go along with the TD against the Bulldogs. The redshirt freshman's 14 yard TD catch punctuated a speedy five play, 75 yard opening drive that took just 1:44.

Through two career games, Wilkins owns 122 yards receiving on 11 catches with two touchdowns. The Pfafftown, N.C. native is also averaging 19.5 yards per kick return as CU's primary return man.

LEADING THE CAMELS
Campbell comes into Saturday's matchup with the sixth-ranked scoring offense in FCS, averaging 40.0 points per game, led by quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams, who leads the nation in completion percentage at a stellar 79.7 percent (47-for-59). The redshirt senior averages 289.5 passing yards per game with four touchdowns, adding a pair of rushing scores.

Williams has connected with 11 different Campbell receivers through two games, including seven with multiple receptions. Jalen Kelsey owns a team-high 162 yards on 10 catches, while VJ Wilkins has posted 122 yards on 11 grabs with two TDs. Lamagea McDowell has also rushed a 118 yards and three touchdowns.

Defensively, CJ Tillman owns a team-high 21 tackles, while Monchovia Gaffney has posted 14 stops.

THE MATCHUP: MONMOUTH
Monmouth is coming off of a 42-23 road win at Towson to open CAA play. Jaden Shirden paces the Hawks, averaging 105.5 rushing yards per game with a touchdown, while Sone Ntoh has scored four TDs.

Marquez McCray is also completing 61.8 percent of his pass attempts for 243.0 yards per game with four scores, including three to Assanti Kearney. Ryan Moran and Jake Brown, meanwhile, have combined for 33 tackles with 3.0 stops for loss.

Campbell and Monmouth will be meeting for the fourth time, and first as CAA rivals. The Hawks own a 3-0 all-time record against the Camels, all coming as Big South Conference opponents from 2018-21. Saturday will mark the Camels' first CAA road game. Monmouth also served as Campbell's first Big South road opponent in 2018.

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 on Sunday, seeing time in 12 plays, including seven kickoffs, a punt return and four defensive snaps. After making the Dolphins' initial 53-man roster, Hill was inactive for Sunday's contest due to injury.

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.

Allen was a four-time All-Big South honoree at CU as a defensive end, earning second team honors this season, despite being limited to just eight games in 2022. The redshirt senior totaled 22 tackles with 7.5 stops for loss, including 4.5 sacks, to go along with an interception, still ranking among the Big South Conference's leaders in tackles for loss and sacks.

Campbell's all-time leader in tackles for loss (38.0) and tied for the school record for sacks (20.5), Allen earned All-America honors in 2021. In his final collegiate season, the Greensboro native was named Big South Defensive Player of the Week after posting three sacks and an interception in the first half of Campbell's win over Robert Morris, also earning honorable mention FCS defensive player of the week accolades.

He was also named to the Buck Buchanan watch list for FCS defensive player of the year, as well as the East-West Shrine Bowl 1000.

One of the top FCS tight end targets in the country, Hill earned First Team All-Big South honors in 2022, collecting all-conference accolades for the third time in his career. Hill registered 659 yards receiving with five TD catches and 38 total receptions, leading all Big South tight ends in those categories. He posted 50 or more receiving yards six times on the season, including a career-high 122 yards on four catches with a touchdown at Bryant.

Hill added a rushing touchdown at North Carolina A&T, also helping lead the Camels to 500 or more yards of total offense four times, and 400 or more passing yards twice.

He played in 48 games from 2018-22 at Campbell, making 26 consecutive starts over his last three seasons, with 85 receptions for 1,218 yards and seven touchdowns.

The duo was two of three Camels to sign with NFL squads following the 2023 NFL Draft, along with safety Aaron Maddox with the Indianapolis Colts.

The trio became the first Camels to join NFL squads since running back De'Shawn Jones attended rookie minicamp with the Seattle Seahawks in 2018.

Other Camels to join the NFL ranks include defensive tackle Greg Milhouse, who played for the New York Giants in the 2016 NFL preseason, and then with Seattle in 2017, long snapper Daniel Dillon, who played in the 2016 NFL preseason for the Arizona Cardinals, and defensive end Ugonna Awuruonye who attended rookie minicamp with Atlanta in 2016.

CAMELS BEGIN 16TH SEASON OF MODERN ERA
Heading into the 16th season of Campbell's modern era of football in 2023, the program continues its upward trajectory.

Just five Big South Conference seasons removed from the non-athletic scholarship Pioneer Football League (the football conference home for CU from 2008-17), the Fighting Camels are now a member of the CAA, the top conference in the FCS, home of some of the most history rich, consistent, national championship winning and storied programs in the subdivision.

In the offseason, the Camels hauled in the top recruiting class in the FCS for the second consecutive year.

The 2023 Camels return 11 total starters, including seven on the offensive side of the ball, three on defense and one on special teams, as well as 44 letterwinners (losing 53 last season), while bringing in a whopping 53 newcomers (25 freshmen, 28 transfers) in head coach Mike Minter's 11th season in Buies Creek.

LOOKING BACK AT 2022
Following the 2022 season, a school record 12 Camels were named to Big South all-conference teams, while eight earned Academic All-District honors from the College Sports Communicators, yet another program record.

First Team All-Big South performers Mike Edwards, an offensive tackle, and long snapper Jackson Hayes also earned All-America honors from multiple publications, and safety Myles Rowser was named a freshman All-American.

Campbell also set a school passing yards record (2,915) for the second straight season.

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.

EDWARDS, DOWDEN, TILLMAN EARN PRESEASON ALL-CAA HONORS
Three Camels were named to Preseason All-CAA teams, while Campbell was picked 12th in the league's Preseason Poll. Offensive tackle Mike Edwards was named Preseason All-CAA, while kicker Caleb Dowden and linebacker CJ Tillman collected honorable mention accolades.

Heading into its first season as a CAA member, Campbell was picked 12th in the preseason poll with 62 points, just behind UAlbany's 64. Preseason favorites William & Mary tallied 195 points, garnering 13 of a possible 15 first place votes. New Hampshire also earned a first place vote, coming in second with 179 points, while Richmond picked up 159.

Delaware recorded the final remaining first place nod with 149 total points, followed by Elon (146), Rhode Island (135), Villanova (129), Monmouth (94), Towson (85) and North Carolina A&T (70). Maine (40), Stony Brook (38) and Hampton (30) rounded out the poll.

Monmouth running back Jaden Shirden was named the CAA Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while William & Mary linebacker John Pius was named CAA Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

EDWARDS, GREENE NAMED TO REESE'S SENIOR BOWL WATCH LIST
Campbell's Mike Edwards and Isaiah Greene have been named to the 2024 Reese's Senior Bowl Watch List. The Senior Bowl identifies the "best of the best" draft prospects at every level of college football for the 2024 NFL Draft.

Edwards, making an appearance on the watch list for the second straight season after electing to return to CU, has also earned multiple preseason All-American nods. Edwards has been named Preseason First Team All-American by Phil Steele, while taking second team honors from Stats Perform and The Bluebloods.

A graduate student, Edwards is coming off an All-American campaign for the Camels, earning second team honors from the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and third team accolades from Phil Steele in 2022.

A Hope Mills native, Edwards was also named First Team All-Big South following the 2022 season, anchoring the left side of an offensive line that helped CU set a single season passing yards record for the second straight year. Edwards started Campbell's first nine games before being lost due to injury, pushing the Camels to 500 or more yards or total offense four times.

Greene, meanwhile, heading into his first season at Campbell after transferring from Central Connecticut State, also appears on the watch list. A cornerback from Newark, N.J., Greene appeared in all 11 CCSU games in 2022, posting 47 tackles with 3.5 stops for loss, including 1.5 sacks, adding two interceptions, five breakups, a forced fumble and a blocked kick.

The 2024 Reese's Senior Bowl, played annually for the past 74 years in Mobile Ala., is set for February 3 at Hancock Whitney Stadium and broadcast on the NFL Network.

WILLIAMS NOMINATED FOR ALLSTATE AFCA GOOD WORKS TEAM
Campbell's Hajj-Malik Williams is one of 136 nominees nationally for the 2023 Allstate American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Good Works Team.

Established in 1992, the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team is one of the most coveted community service awards in college football. From the 136 nominees, the final roster of 23 award recipients will bring together 11 players from the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision; 11 players from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, Divisions II, III and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA); and one honorary head coach. To be considered for a spot on the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, each player must be actively involved with a charitable organization or service group while maintaining strong academic standing.

Among the team and department-wide leaders in community services hours logged and events attended in 2022-23, Williams is heavily involved in the greater community, volunteering for events such as the Special Olympics, Polar Plunge, Night to Shine, as well as Read Across America at Buies Creek Elementary.

The Atlanta native also helped donate and promote Campbell Football's inaugural Food and Toy Drive, put on in conjunction with Harnett County Veteran Services, served at the Buies Creek Food Pantry, and is an active participant with the Lillington Boys and Girls Club. Williams is also working to create a Big Brothers Program with Campbell Football and the Dunn Boys and Girls Club/P.A.L.

On the field, Williams passed for a school record 2,221 yards last season as the only QB in the Big South Conference to rank in the league's top-three in passing and top-15 in rushing.

The former Freshman All-American was a two-time Big South Offensive Player of the Week, combining for 294 yards with a touchdown while completing 22-of-33 passes in a win over NC Central, and passing for three touchdowns and 249 yards on 26-of-35 passing (career-best 74.3 completion percentage) in the first half of a win over Robert Morris.

The final 22-member team and honorary coach are selected by a voting panel of former Allstate AFCA Good Works Team members, current and former head coaches and journalists. They look for exceptional leadership on and off the football field.

WEEDEN EARNS GRAPHITE AWARD AS TOP PLAY CALLER
Campbell offensive coordinator Anthony Weeden has earned the Graphite Award, recognizing the most efficient offensive play-caller in each Division I football conference for the 2022 season, announced by RII Sports Technology.

Each year RII Sports Technology analyzes play-by-play data for all Division I FBS and FCS football programs and assesses the degree to which offensive play callers made decisions that best aligned their team's strengths with their opponent's weaknesses. This assessment is quantified in a Play Calling Efficiency Ratio (PCER) – a measure of how frequently a play caller puts their team in advantageous strength-on-weakness positions while minimizing the number of times they operate from a disadvantage.

In his first season as offensive coordinator in 2022, Weeden guided the Camels to a school record for passing yards in a single year (2,915).

Under Weeden's supervision, offensive tackle Mike Edwards earned All-American honors, also becoming one of four Camels on the offensive side of the ball to earn All-Big South accolades, along with fellow first team member Julian Hill, and second team running back Bryant Barr and guard Isaiah Burch.

FIRST TIME OPPONENTS
Campbell will face off against four first time opponents, coming in consecutive weeks from October 21 to November 11. CU will take on Maine (October 21), followed by Richmond (October 28), North Carolina (November 4) and Delaware (November 11).

Since the 2018 campaign, which coincided with the program moving to the Big South, and now the CAA in 2023, CU has already faced 22 first time opponents, with that number set to grow to 26 by the end of the season. Campbell faced eight first time opponents during the 2022 season.

NEXT UP
Campbell returns home on September 23, hosting Elon on Parent's Weekend in another CAA contest.