American · Tyler, Texas, USA · Born 29 March 1955Texas running back nicknamed 'the Tyler Rose,' who became the Longhorns' first Heisman Trophy winner in 1977 after leading the nation in rushing and scoring during an undefeated regular season.
Earl Christian Campbell was born on 29 March 1955 in Tyler, Texas, the fifth of eleven children, and led John Tyler High School to the 1973 Texas state championship before enrolling at the University of Texas in 1974. He was an instant success as a freshman fullback in the Longhorns' wishbone attack, rushing for 928 yards and winning the first of three consensus All-Southwest Conference honors. Injuries hampered Campbell's junior season in 1976, limiting him to a career-low 653 yards on a strained hamstring, but he returned for a spectacular senior year in 1977. Campbell rushed for 1,744 yards and 19 touchdowns - a Southwest Conference record that stood for 16 years - leading the nation in both rushing and scoring while posting ten 100-yard games. Texas rode his performances to an 11-0 regular season and the No. 1 ranking, though the Longhorns fell to Joe Montana's Notre Dame in the Cotton Bowl, finishing fourth nationally. Campbell's senior season earned him the Heisman Trophy - the first won by a Texas Longhorn - along with unanimous All-American honors and the inaugural Davey O'Brien Award as the Southwest's top player. He finished his college career with 4,443 rushing yards, then the fifth-highest total in NCAA history. Selected first overall by the Houston Oilers in the 1978 NFL draft, Campbell swept the league's Rookie of the Year, MVP, and Offensive Player of the Year honors and became a three-time NFL rushing champion known for his punishing, tackle-breaking running style. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1990 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1991, and has since run a successful sausage and barbecue sauce business while raising awareness for multiple sclerosis.
Becoming the University of Texas's first Heisman Trophy winner in 1977 after leading the nation in rushing and scoring during an undefeated regular season
How They Played
Powerful, downhill running back known for a punishing style that broke tackles rather than avoided them, combining rare strength with surprising breakaway speed
Lasting Impact
Regarded as one of the greatest and most punishing running backs in college football history, whose powerful style at Texas carried directly into an NFL Hall of Fame career defined by the same relentless, tackle-breaking running
Career Honours
- 1977 Heisman Trophy - first won by a Texas Longhorn
- Unanimous All-American (1977)
- Led the nation in rushing and scoring (1977)
- Inaugural Davey O'Brien Award winner
American Athletes