Penn State Football All 105

Penn State All 105: Welcome to LBU, Amare Campbell

Published

July 31, 2025

Credit: Penn State Football

When James Franklin wants a player, he tends to get him, and Amare Campbell is a recent example of that.

After the team’s annual Blue-White Game, Franklin didn’t sugarcoat anything when he told reporters that the team needed a linebacker.

Enter, Campbell.

The All-ACC performer from North Carolina is coming off a career year, and as soon as he entered the portal, people began to think that Penn State would be a fit.

Sometimes, people are right, and that was the case here. Campbell committed to Penn State in early May, signed not long after, and now is looking to make his mark on “Linebacker University.”

Height: 6-feet

Weight: 231 pounds

Hometown: Manassas, Virginia

At North Carolina:

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An incoming junior from Manassas, Virginia, Campbell recorded 76 tackles and 10.5 tackles for loss as a sophomore. He played in all 13 of UNC’s games and recorded five or more tackles in nine.

Campbell tallied 6.5 sacks, including 1.5 against NC State and one sack in the season-opening game at Minnesota. He totaled eight tackles, one tackle for loss, one pass breakup, and one QB hit against Pitt.

Campbell closed the season with five QB hits, including one at Fenway Park in the Fenway Bowl loss to the UConn Huskies.

He earned sparring playing time as a freshman, but made the most of his reps. Campbell made 14 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, one pass defended, and his first and only INT against Syracuse.

Where he stands: The question isn’t if Campbell will have a role in coordinator Jim Knowles’ defense, it’s what type of role he’ll have. Right now, he’s projected to play the MIKE linebacker position vacated by longtime starter Kobe King’s departure to the NFL. Campbell has plenty of experience at the MIKE and should be more than capable.

A quote about Campbell: “What I saw from Amare was the ability to play in space, and then also inside the box,” Knowles said Thursday. “So I thought he had a really nice combination of the athletic skills necessary to operate in the open field, but when it came to being tough inside, you know, those are the linebackers that are hard to find.” — Penn State DC Jim Knowles