Texas OL DJ Campbell Opens Up About 2024 Disappointments, Vows Redemption and Leadership Heading Into Critical 2025 Longhorns Season
As the 2025 college football season looms, Texas Longhorns offensive lineman DJ Campbell is stepping into a new chapter—one defined by reflection, growth, and renewed determination. The former five-star recruit, who arrived in Austin as one of the most highly touted offensive line prospects in recent memory, is now entering his pivotal junior campaign with more at stake than ever before. For Campbell, the offseason hasn’t just been about weight room reps, drills, or team bonding. It’s been about coming to terms with the disappointments of 2024 and using them as fuel to rewrite the narrative.
The Longhorns entered the 2024 season with high expectations, fresh off their appearance in the 2023 College Football Playoff. With a veteran roster, a maturing offensive line, and rising star quarterback Arch Manning stepping fully into the spotlight, many saw Texas as a national title contender. The belief wasn’t just internal—it was national. Analysts predicted dominance in the trenches, a dynamic offense, and a defense that could close games. For DJ Campbell, who started at right guard, the pieces felt in place for Texas to finally reclaim college football glory.
But reality didn’t follow the script.
Injuries, inconsistent play, and a brutal midseason stretch derailed Texas’ 2024 campaign. A pair of early losses to Oklahoma and Alabama set a sobering tone, while close calls against Kansas State and TCU exposed the team’s lack of cohesion in high-pressure moments. The offensive line, once projected to be the team’s strength, struggled at key junctures. Campbell, in particular, found himself under the microscope. Despite his immense potential and raw strength, his execution wavered, and penalties in crucial situations added to a growing list of frustrations.
“It was humbling, man,” Campbell admits. “You come into a season thinking it’s your breakout year, the year where everything finally comes together. Then things start falling apart, and you’re right there in it, trying to figure out why.”
Campbell doesn’t shy away from accountability. In fact, he leans into it. The 6-foot-3, 320-pound junior has used the spring and summer to evaluate not just his physical game but his mindset.
“I looked in the mirror a lot after last season,” he says. “Not just at what I could’ve done better on the field, but how I was preparing, how I was leading, how I was showing up every single day. The truth is, I wasn’t consistent enough. And at this level, that’ll get exposed real quick.”
The transparency is striking. Campbell could easily chalk up the 2024 struggles to external factors—team injuries, system changes, tough competition. But instead, he points inward. And according to those close to the program, that introspection has turned into transformation.
“He’s become a leader in that O-line room,” says Texas offensive line coach Kyle Flood. “DJ’s taken the steps you want to see from a guy his age. He’s not just talking about getting better—he’s doing it. Extra film. Extra drills. Holding younger guys accountable. He’s grown a lot.”
Part of that growth has come from embracing adversity. Campbell’s journey has never been linear. At Bowie High School in Arlington, he was a man among boys—dominant, aggressive, and nearly unblockable. His recruiting profile was glowing: No. 1 interior lineman in the nation, offers from every blueblood program, a sure bet for college stardom. But college football is a different animal. The speed, complexity, and intensity of the game forced Campbell to adapt.
His freshman year in 2022 was a developmental season, where he redshirted and bulked up. In 2023, he saw rotational reps but wasn’t a full-time starter. It wasn’t until 2024 that he truly locked down the right guard position—only to find that consistency at the collegiate level is elusive. Still, Campbell doesn’t dwell on what went wrong. He’s focused on what comes next.
“The great thing about this sport is that it always gives you a chance to respond,” he says. “That’s what this season is about—response. How do I respond to last year? How do we respond as a team? That’s what I’m locked in on.”
With Texas heading into the 2025 season as a member of the expanded SEC, the stakes are even higher. The gauntlet of opponents—Georgia, LSU, Florida, Alabama—offers little margin for error. Every Saturday will be a test of grit and execution. For the offensive line, that means setting the tone early and often. Campbell knows he’ll be counted on to anchor a unit that has no room for mediocrity.
“The SEC is no joke,” he says with a slight grin. “But I didn’t come to Texas to avoid competition. I came to play against the best. And now, we’re going to do that every single week. I love it.”
The love for the game is evident in how Campbell speaks. There’s a sharpness in his words, a fire that wasn’t always present during his early college days. He’s not just talking like a player—he’s talking like a man who understands what’s at stake. NFL scouts are watching. Fans are expecting a bounce back. Coaches are demanding leadership. And in a program hungry for results, Campbell is positioning himself as a pillar.
His offseason has been defined by relentless training. Sources within the Texas strength and conditioning staff say Campbell has dropped bad weight, improved his lateral quickness, and increased his stamina. He’s also spent countless hours breaking down film—studying not just his own play but also the greats of the game, including NFL standouts like Quenton Nelson and Zack Martin.
“I’m a student of the game now,” he explains. “I used to rely on being stronger than everybody. Now, it’s about technique, timing, leverage, all that. I’m studying tendencies. I’m thinking the game. That’s the biggest leap I’ve made.”
Beyond the field, Campbell is also finding his voice. In team meetings, he speaks up. In the locker room, he checks in on younger linemen. During workouts, he sets the pace. It’s a maturity that head coach Steve Sarkisian has praised openly during preseason media sessions.
“DJ’s becoming that guy we knew he could be,” Sarkisian said. “He’s embracing the responsibility that comes with wearing the burnt orange. That’s what we need.”
What Texas needs most, however, is execution. All the preseason hype in the world won’t matter if the Longhorns can’t deliver come Saturdays. For Campbell, the personal and team goals are aligned—dominate up front, control the line of scrimmage, and finish games. The sting of last season’s late-game collapses still lingers. Campbell remembers each one vividly.
“There were games where we just didn’t finish,” he says. “And when you’re on the O-line, that’s on you. When you need a third-and-two and don’t get it, that’s on us. That stuff stays with you. But now we’ve got a chance to change the ending.”
The 2025 Texas Longhorns have the talent to do it. Arch Manning returns with another year of experience. The running back room is deep. The receiving corps is explosive. The defense is physical. But none of it will matter if the offensive line doesn’t hold its ground. And DJ Campbell is well aware.
“This team is only going as far as the trenches take us,” he says. “That’s the truth. If we want to win championships, it starts with us up front. I take that personally.”
He should. Because this is more than just another season. For DJ Campbell, it’s a crossroads. A chance to live up to the potential he’s carried since high school. A chance to lead. A chance to be remembered not just for hype, but for heart, hustle, and results. And as he gears up for what could be his final year in college football, Campbell isn’t focused on the noise, the critics, or even the draft boards.
“I’m focused on playing the best football of my life,” he says. “That’s it. Everything else will take care of itself.”
It’s a mindset forged in adversity and refined through experience. DJ Campbell has learned that potential is just a starting point. The rest? That’s earned. And as the 2025 season begins, don’t expect DJ Campbell to just show up.
Expect him to show out.
