North Carolina linebacker Amare Campbell is back in practice after sustaining a broken right hand, indicating a return to action that is either on time or ahead of plan.
The sophomore Campbell, the Tar Heels’ new middle linebacker, is exercising with a hefty protective tape job that totally covers the hand, as UNC begins game planning and final preparations for its season opener against Minnesota on August 29.
As previously reported by Inside Carolina, Campbell was wearing a cast and did not participate in the Tar Heels’ training camp workouts around ten days ago. According to sources close to the issue, he was not anticipated to miss any games and should be able to resume practice soon.
Whether intentional or not, UNC linebackers coach Tommy Thigpen didn’t convey the most confident tone when discussing Campbell’s status after a practice last week, saying, “He’ll be back in a couple of weeks.”
“He’s tough, so he’ll be back,” Thigpen added. “A couple of weeks being this week, next week, and hopefully by game time he’ll be ready to play.”
Campbell, who turns 19 next Thursday, will be preparing as the Tar Heels kick off their 2024 season that night at Minnesota. Last season, as a true freshman, he learned from accomplished All-ACC linebackers Cedric Gray and Power Echols. Already, Campbell has earned the trust of key UNC defensive leaders like Kaimon Rucker and Alijah Huzzie, who have expressed their confidence in him during the preseason.
Despite Echols’ experience of playing in 40 career games and recording two 100-tackle seasons, linebacker remains one of the Tar Heels’ thinnest positions in terms of college football experience. In Campbell’s absence, redshirt freshman Caleb LaVallee, sophomore Michael Short, true freshman Ashton Woods, and sophomore Cade Law have been competing for more opportunities in practice.
“Those are four really good linebackers that we’re rotating through different positions to see who could become the third and even fourth linebacker,” said new defensive coordinator Geoff Collins during training camp, referring to UNC’s linebacker options behind starters Campbell and Echols. “We’re also incorporating them into some of our different defensive packages.”
Cedric Gray, the former three-year starter now with the NFL’s Tennessee Titans, frequently praised Campbell throughout last season, endorsing him as UNC’s next standout linebacker. As a true freshman, Campbell earned his first start in the final game of last season, the Tar Heels’ loss to West Virginia in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl, after Gray declared for the NFL Draft.
In that bowl game, Campbell recorded a season-high four tackles, including one for a loss, and pressured the quarterback. He ended the season with 14 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack (against Campbell of the FCS), and one interception (against Syracuse), all while playing in 11 games, primarily in a backup role as Gray and Echols carried the bulk of the workload.
“Honestly, he’s kind of like a mix of both Gray and Echols,” cornerback Alijah Huzzie said of Campbell after a practice earlier in training camp. “He’s physical, fast, quick, and has great football instincts. He’s a smart player who knows the game well. I think he’s going to be an excellent player.”
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