Will Campbell’s Playoff Test: From LSU Battles to NFL Showdowns
FOXBORO - Will Campbell isn’t new to the fire. Long before he was anchoring the Patriots’ offensive line in a playoff run, the rookie left tackle was already sharpening his game against some of the best in the business - even if they weren’t in the NFL just yet.
Back at LSU, Campbell was thrown into the deep end as an 18-year-old freshman. His assignments?
Block future NFL stars like Will Anderson, Jared Verse, and Jalen Carter. That kind of early exposure to elite pass rushers didn’t just prepare him - it hardened him.
Now, the past meets the present. Campbell is set to face Anderson again this Sunday when the Patriots take on the Houston Texans in the divisional round. And this time, the stakes are higher.
“It’s a great experience for a young player,” Campbell said this week. “I had a feeling one day I would get to see him again.
He’s an extremely talented player. Plays the game really hard.
Ton of respect for him and what he’s been able to do.”
That mutual respect is rooted in experience. Campbell knows exactly what kind of challenge Anderson presents - relentless motor, explosiveness off the edge, and a knack for disrupting the backfield.
But Campbell’s not backing down. He’s already proven he can hold his own under pressure, even if the learning curve has been steep.
In the Patriots’ 16-3 win over the Chargers, Campbell’s run blocking drew praise from Pro Football Focus, but he also gave up a sack and four hurries in pass protection. That’s life as a rookie offensive lineman in the NFL playoffs - every snap is a test, and every rep is under the microscope.
Still, Campbell isn’t losing sleep over outside noise.
“Honestly, I don’t give a (expletive) what anyone says, to be honest with you,” he said. “It’s easy to type behind a Twitter account that, you know, is fake.
I hold myself to the highest expectation of anybody. I want to be perfect.”
That mindset has served him well so far. Against a Chargers front that featured names like Tuli Tuipulotu, Odafe Oweh, and Khalil Mack, Campbell stood tall - not flawless, but fearless.
“Obviously, I didn’t pitch a shutout,” he admitted. “I had two or three plays that I wish I could have back.
But that’s $300 million in defensive ends and I’ve got a ton of respect for those dudes. It’s going to be like that every week in the playoffs.”
He’s not wrong. The postseason is where stars shine and mistakes get magnified. And Campbell knows exactly what kind of physicality it demands.
“Like Coach (Mike) Vrabel said: You’ve got to be willing to spill a little blood in violence. You’ve got to just hope you don’t spill more than they do. And that’s the name of the game.”
That game ramps up this weekend. On top of Anderson, Campbell will also have to contend with five-time Pro Bowler Danielle Hunter, who’s coming off a 15-sack season - his seventh double-digit sack campaign in a decade-long career. That’s not just veteran savvy; that’s production at an elite level.
For Campbell, it’s another chapter in a rookie season that’s been anything but ordinary. From SEC gauntlets to NFL playoff battles, he’s been forged in fire. And now, with the Patriots’ season on the line, he’s stepping into the spotlight once again - not just to survive, but to prove he belongs.