Earl Campbell: The Tyler Rose's Dominance in College Football

Earl Christian Campbell, nicknamed "the Tyler Rose," is an American former professional football running back whose college career with the Texas Longhorns cemented his place in football history. Born on March 29, 1955, in Tyler, Texas, Campbell's journey from a small town to national stardom is a testament to his talent, hard work, and relentless playing style.

Early Life and High School Career

Growing up as the sixth of 11 siblings, Campbell faced adversity early in life when his father passed away when he was just 11 years old. He began playing football in fifth grade as a kicker. He then moved to linebacker in sixth grade, modeling his playing style after Dick Butkus. Despite his mother's initial discouragement, Campbell's love for football persisted. In 1973, he led the Corky Nelson-coached John Tyler High School to the Texas 4A State Championship, earning the title of Mr. Football USA.

Recruitment and Choosing Texas

Heavily recruited by numerous colleges, Campbell narrowed his choices to Houston, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, and Baylor. Ultimately, he chose to stay in-state and play for the Texas Longhorns.

College Career at the University of Texas

Campbell's college career at the University of Texas was nothing short of legendary. From 1974 to 1977, he established himself as one of the greatest running backs in college football history.

1974 Season: Freshman Impact

As a freshman in 1974, Campbell made an immediate impact, starting at fullback in the Longhorns’ "Wishbone" attack. He rushed for 928 yards and six touchdowns, earning his first of three consensus All-Southwest Conference (SWC) honors.

1975 Season: Sophomore Success

Campbell's success continued as a sophomore in 1975, when he ran for 1,118 yards and 13 touchdowns. He earned his first of two consensus All-America awards, helping lead Texas to a 10-2 record and a No. 6 national ranking in the final Associated Press poll.

1976 Season: Overcoming Injuries

The 1976 season was challenging for Campbell, as injuries hampered his performance. Missing four games with a pulled hamstring, he recorded a career-low 653 rushing yards and three touchdowns. The Longhorns struggled to a 5-5-1 record. Despite the setbacks, Campbell's determination remained unwavering.

1977 Season: Heisman Trophy Glory

Campbell's senior season in 1977 was one for the ages. He rushed for a Southwest Conference record of 1,744 yards (a record that stood for 16 years) and 19 touchdowns, leading the nation in both rushing and scoring. In the third game of the season, against the Rice Owls, Campbell scored four touchdowns during a 72-15 blowout in which Texas kicker Russell Erxleben set an NCAA record with a 67-yard field goal. In his final regular-season game, Campbell rushed for a career-high 222 yards in a 57-28 victory over rival Texas A&M. The Longhorns finished the regular season undefeated and clinched the Southwest Conference championship.

The top-ranked Longhorns then faced No. 5 Notre Dame, led by quarterback Joe Montana, in the Cotton Bowl Classic. Campbell carried 29 times for 116 yards in the game, but Notre Dame was victorious, 38-10, and claimed the national championship.

At the end of the season, Campbell was awarded the Heisman Trophy, becoming the first Texas Longhorn to receive the prestigious honor. He also claimed numerous other accolades, solidifying his status as the nation's top college football player.

Read also: Campbell's Basketball Career

College Statistics Overview

Throughout his four-year college career, Campbell amassed impressive statistics:

Total Rushing Yards: 4,443 yards
Rushing Touchdowns: 41
All-SWC Honors: 3 (1974, 1975, 1977)
All-America Honors: 2 (1975, 1977)

NFL Career

Campbell was the first overall draft pick in the 1978 NFL draft, selected by the Houston Oilers, who signed him to a six-year, $1.4 million contract. The Oilers obtained the pick from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers by trading tight end Jimmie Giles, their first and second round picks in the 1978 Draft, and their third and fifth round picks in the 1979 Draft.

Style of play

With his aggressive running style which favored running over players instead of around them, questions began to arise over how long Campbell could stay healthy.

Houston Oilers (1978-1984)

With head coach Bum Phillips, Campbell's emergence in Houston coincided with the Luv Ya Blue era, a period of sustained success in which the Oilers made three straight playoff appearances. Campbell became the centerpiece of Houston's offense during the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Campbell had his most productive rushing yardage season in 1980, with 1,934 yards in 15 games-an average of 128.9 yards per game. He finished 70 yards short of breaking O. J. Simpson's single-season rushing yards record set in 1973. Campbell again led the league in rushing yards and touchdowns, and broke his own record for carries, with 373. Over 60 percent of Campbell's yards came in the fourth quarter. He had four games of over 200 rushing yards, a single-season record that still stands as of the end of the 2016 season. Campbell also threw a 57-yard touchdown pass to receiver Billy "White Shoes" Johnson against the Steelers for his only career completion out of three attempts. The Oilers again finished with an 11-5 regular-season record, but lost in the Wild Card Round to the Oakland Raiders. Bum Phillips was fired three days after Houston's loss in the wild-card game, and defensive coordinator Ed Biles was given the head coaching job.

In 1981, the Oilers finished 7-9 and failed to make the playoffs for the first time with Campbell on the roster. Campbell also did not claim the rushing yards title for the first time in his career as he finished fifth in yards with 1,376 and seventh in touchdowns with 10. The highlight of the season was back-to-back rushing performances of over 180 yards, against the Cincinnati Bengals during week 5 and against the Seattle Seahawks in week 6.

A players' strike in 1982 shortened the season to nine games and the Oilers finished with a 1-8 record. Campbell's production improved greatly in 1983 as he had 1,301 yards and 12 touchdowns, and was invited to his fifth Pro Bowl. However, the Oilers finished the season tied for the worst record in the league at 2-14. Unhappy after he was pulled in the second half against the Cincinnati Bengals in week 10, Campbell demanded to be traded. He completed the season with the team but remained adamant with his demand in the off-season.

New Orleans Saints (1984-1985)

The Saints received Campbell in exchange for their first-round draft pick in 1985, with which Houston selected cornerback Richard Johnson. The trade came as a surprise in New Orleans; the team already had the young George Rogers, the 1981 No.

Retirement

After considering a return for one more season to reach 10,000 career rushing yards, Campbell retired during the 1986 preseason, feeling that the beating he had taken during his career had taken too much of a toll.

Honors and Legacy

Campbell's contributions to football have been widely recognized through numerous honors and accolades:

College Football Hall of Fame: Inducted in 1990
Pro Football Hall of Fame: Inducted in 1991
NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team: Named in 2019
Texas Longhorns Jersey Retirement: Number 20 retired in 1979
Texas All-Century Team: Selected in 2000
Official State Hero of Texas: Declared in 1981

Campbell is widely acknowledged as one of the best power running backs in NFL history and is considered one of the greatest running backs in Texas Longhorns and college football history. His aggressive running style and exceptional talent made him a dominant force on the field.

Personal Life

In 1980, Campbell married his high school sweetheart Reuna Smith, and they have two sons: Christian and Tyler. Campbell has experienced various physical ailments in his later life.

tags: #Earl #Campbell #college #career #stats