The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

WHAT began as a promising season for August Campbell in his third year with the Duke Blue Devils ended abruptly as Campbell recently left the programme.

The redshirt junior safety, who started Duke’s first two games, left the team and will no longer play football for Duke citing personal reasons, even though he continues as a student. Campbell could not immediately be reached for comment.

According to head coach David Cutcliffe, Campbell was not forced to leave the programme. He started 10 games during his Duke career and began the season as the backup to senior Brandon Braxton.

Campbell suffered what was called an “upper body injury” September 8 against Stanford, the third game of the season. He stepped into the starting lineup when Jordan Byas was sidelined during preseason practices with torn knee cartilage that required surgery.

He finished with six tackles, one fumble recovery and one quarterback hurry in his first full season at the helm of the defensive secondary.

Campbell began the season with a career milestone in the Blue Devil’s 46-26 season opener over the FIU Golden Panthers. He recovered a fumble late in the second quarter for the second fumble recovery of his career.

Leading 27-14, Campbell recovered the turnover, which led to a Blue Devils score and a three possession game as they pulled away. He also finished the game by matching a career-high with five tackles and the fourth quarterback hurry of his career.

Campbell started the year as one of two returning safeties despite the fact that he missed spring drills while recovering from shoulder surgery.

Coming into the season, his 24 career games included eight starts, 43 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one interception, one fumble recovery and three quarterback hurries.

The 6’3”, 235 pound defensive back also owns the school record for longest fumble return with a 95-yard touchdown return against Boston College in 2010. He had one tackle in the Stanford game prior to his injury.

The safety position has been particularly injury plagued for the Devils. Freshman safety Corbin McCarthy has also missed the last two games due to a shoulder injury, reserve safety Taylor Sowell is sidelined for the season with an Achilles’ tendon injury, and sophomore Jeremy Cash is sitting out this season under NCAA transfer rules after joining the Blue Devils from the Ohio State Buckeyes.