2014 CIS Football Player to Watch: Dillon Campbell, Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks

August 24, 2014

Source: Jamie Howieson, Laurier Sports Info / Photo credit Thomas Kolodziej

Name: Dillon Campbell
University: Wilfrid Laurier
Hometown: Whitby, Ont.
High school / Cegep: St. Mary CSS
Position: Running Back
Academic program: Kin/Phys. Ed.
Year of eligibility: 4
Height: 5-8
Weight: 195

Key stats 2013: Led the OUA in rushing yards with 867 and added five touchdowns while accumulating over 1,000 all-purpose yards.
Awards & honours (since start of CIS career): 2013 OUA Second Team All-Star, 2014 East West Bowl Participant

Entering last season, running back Dillon Campbell was a relatively unknown commodity for the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks. Never amassing more than 100 yards rushing in a single season, he was handed the starting job out of camp by head coach Michael Faulds. It turned out to be a wise decision by the rookie bench boss as Campbell went on to be the face of the Hawks’ offence in 2013.

Taking the league by storm, Campbell burst onto the scene in Week 3 with a 146 yard performance against the York Lions. Over the following four weeks, he cracked the 100-yard rushing barrier four times, highlighted by a 180-yard, two touchdown performance in a 41-10 win over Waterloo. Campbell would also work his way into the Laurier record books in Week 5 against the Western Mustangs with a 100-yard touchdown run against the No. 1 team in the nation.

When the dust settled on 2013, the 5-8 graduate of St. Mary CSS in Whitby, Ont., found himself as the OUA’s leading rusher and fourth-best in Canada. His 867 yards gave him the distinction of being the first Golden Hawk to lead the conference in rushing since Mike Montoya achieved the feat in 2009.

Campbell’s strong season was rewarded with an appearance in the 2014 East West Bowl representing the West. With a chance to showcase his skills for CFL scouts, Campbell posted the highest rushing average of any running back in the game, running three times for 21 yards.

Heading into 2014, Campbell will no longer be an unknown for opposing teams but his coach feels that he has the ability to put up even better numbers than he did last year.

“Dillon will no longer go under any team’s radar when we play them this year, but I still believe he can better his terrific numbers from last season,” stated Faulds on a player who will undoubtedly be one of Laurier’s leader in 2014. “He continues to be one of our hardest working players and he has an even better understanding of what we are doing on offense this season. He also has the benefit of playing behind an older, bigger and stronger offensive line, which should open up some great running lanes.”