Kevin Thompson completed his eighth season as Campbell's offensive line coach in 2020.
Over the last eight seasons, Thompson's line has been at the forefront of Campbell’s offensive attack, producing 15 all-conference honorees over two leagues.
Despite playing a four-game, all-FBS schedule in 2020, the Campbell offense ranked No. 4 in the FCS in total offense, No. 3 in rushing offense, No. 5 in passing offense and No. 1 in third down conversions at season's end.
Anchored by All-Big South pick Tyler McLellan, Campbell’s 2020 o-line boasted its largest group in program history, with an average height of 6-5.6 and weighing in at 325 pounds on average (1,625 total pounds), the unit would have ranked as the seventh largest in the FBS (according to Crecent City Sports).
In CU’s second season in the Big South in 2019, the Camels posted a top-three rushing attack for the second straight year, while two members of the offensive line were named to all-conference teams. Bookended by the duo of Jacob Cuddington and Tyler McLellan at left and right tackle, respectively, the group helped pave the way for six individual 100 yard rushing performances, and three individual 100 yard receiving games in 2019. Campbell ran and passed for 200 or more yards six times each, pushing Campbell to a season-high 269 rushing yards at North Alabama.
In 2018, Campbell ranked ninth nationally in fewest sacks allowed, clearing the way for six individual 100-yard rushing games. Campbell owned the Big South's second-ranked passing offense, standing No. 2 in pass completions, passing yards and pass touchdowns, as well as third-ranked totals in scoring offense, touchdowns, total offense, rush yards and rush TDs, while Shuler Littleton was named Second Team All-Big South.
Campbell again produced one of the top rushing outputs in the Pioneer Football League in 2017, ranking second at 228.7 yards per game. CU was also one of two squads in the PFL to average more than 33 points per game, while leading the conference in total yards with a school record 436.5 yards per game. Campbell also set school record for passing touchdowns (21) and passing yards per game (207.8), while hitting the 50 touchdown mark for the second time in the program’s 10 seasons.
Littleton was also named Second Team All-PFL in 2017, paving the way for First Team Freshman All-America and PFL Offensive Freshman of the Year Daniel Smith. The Camels ranked among the national leaders in first down offense (8th), scoring offense (21st), rushing offense (13th) and total offense (24th) at the conclusion of the regular season.
Campbell led the PFL in rushing in 2015 with 1,956 yards, with Thompson's offensive line paving the way for the league's leading rusher, First Team All-PFL running back De'Shawn Jones.
Three members of the offensive line were named all-conference, with redshirt sophomore Brian Stryffeler leading the way with second team honors. Josh Hutto and Laurin O'Briant also earned honorable mention nods for the Camels.
CU ranked third in the PFL in rushing offense in 2016, with Stryffeler and O'Briant earning honorable mention all-conference nods.
In addition to the team's success on the ground, Campbell's last four seasons have been the best in the program's passing history, throwing for more than 2,000 yards in each.
In 2014, Thompson coached three Campbell offensive linemen to All-PFL selections , including First Team member Will Sawyer at left guard. Senior center Dalton Brown and freshman right tackle Josh Hutto were also honorable mentions.
In his first season as the Camels’ offensive line coach, the program set 21 offensive team records, including rushing yards (2,800), passing yards (2,436), and total offense (5,236).
Center Dalton Brown and left guard Will Sawyer also picked up honorable mention nods on the offensive line for the Camels, helping Campbell rank second in the PFL in rushing offense at 233.2 yards per game. The Camels ran for more than 200 yards five times in 2013, including a school record 513 in a win over UVa.-Wise. CU also passed for more than 275 yards four times.
Thompson, a 20 year coaching veteran throughout the Southeast, came to Buies Creek after spending four seasons at Johnson C. Smith University, where he served as associate head coach and offensive line coach, while also handling the Golden Bulls’ equipment duties.
Over his final two seasons at Johnson C. Smith, Thompson helped guide the Bulls to back to back winning records for the first time in 40 years. The team also concluded the season on a four-game winning streak, its longest since 1996.
Behind Thompson’s line, quarterback Keahn Wallace set the mark for most passing yards in a single-season at JCSU with 2,280, and Dedrick Anderson became the Golden Bulls’ first 1,000-yard rusher since 1991.
During the Golden Bulls’ Pioneer Bowl championship run in 2011, Thompson constructed an offensive line that allowed JCSU to total 3,881 yards of offense. His o-line also protected quarterback Keahn Wallace, who produced 2,005 yards through the air and a record 473 yards on the ground.
Thompson began coaching at his alma mater, Savannah State University. As a player, Thompson's offensive unit paved the way for both of SSU’s all-time leading rushers. In 1992, his team made the NCAA Division II playoffs and was ranked eighth in the country. That same year saw Thompson gain honorable mention accolades from the SIAC. Thompson earned second team honors on the 1994 All-SIAC list.
Thompson began coaching at SSU in 1995 as a student assistant and took over the Tigers offensive line in 1996. From SSU, Thompson followed his old coach Bill Davis to JCSU. Under Thompson's tutelage, the offensive line at JCSU led the way for the CIAA Offensive Player of the Year and leading rusher in 2000.
Thompson moved on to Livingstone College in 2003. While at Livingstone, his offensive line opened holes for the conference all-purpose yard getter in 2004, giving up only 10 sacks the entire season. Thompson would also send one of his linemen to the All-CIAA ranks both years at Livingstone.
In 2005, Thompson joined the coaching staff at Florida A&M University. While at FAMU, his o-line led the way for the 2005 leading rusher in the MEAC. In 2007, his line would make way for the Offensive Rookie of the Year who was second in the MEAC in rushing.
After leaving FAMU, Thompson became the offensive line coach at Lane College before returning to JCSU.
A native of Decatur, Ga., he attended McNair Sr. High School in Atlanta, and graduated from Savannah State in 1996 with a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice. Thompson and his wife, Tennile Simms, have two children Kevin, Jr. and Kaylen.
