Stephen J. Campbell (2016) - Hall of Fame - Brown University Athletics

Stephen J. Campbell

Induction:
2016
Class:
2001

One of the most prolific pass catchers in the history of Brown football, Stephen Campbell ’01 earned innumerable honors and etched his name in the NCAA, Ivy League and Brown record books.

A finalist for the 2000 Walter Payton Award given to the most outstanding FCS player in the nation, Campbell gained First Team All-America honors from the Associated Press, Walter Camp, American Football Coaches Association, The Sports Network, Football News, Football Gazette, and ESPN/USA Today. Campbell was also Brown’s first Walter Camp First Team All-America selection since Fritz Pollard ’19 in 1916. Campbell joined four other Phil Estes’ Bears from the ’90s in gaining All-American honors.

Brown claimed six All-Americans prior to 1927, and Campbell joined Zach Burns ’99, Sean Morey ’99, Rocky Parson ’98, and Paul Choquette ’97 as the first group of Bears to earn First Team All-America honors after that era.

The accolades continued for Campbell as he garnered Football Gazette FCS Wide Receiver of the Year, the Bulger Lowe Award as the New England Player of the Year, the New England Football Writers Gold Helmet of the Year Award, and was rated the No. 1 wide receiver in FCS by The Sports Network. A three-time First Team All-Ivy and two-time All-New England choice, he took home Rhode Island Male Athlete of the Year plaudits in 2000.

An NCAA FCS Academic All-Star, Campbell helped the Bears win the 1999 Ivy League title, Brown’s second Ivy League title all-time and first since 1976. In 2003, he earned a spot on the Brown Football 125th Anniversary Team as one of four wide receivers selected for the squad. As a senior in 2000, Campbell set an NCAA FCS record with 120 receptions, still standing fourth all-time, established an NCAA FCS record with 12.0 receptions per game, a mark which still stands, and led the nation with 133.2 receiving yards per game. He totaled two seasons with over 1,000 receiving yards and double-digit touchdowns, registering 120 catches for 1,332 yards and 11 touchdowns as a senior along with 89 catches for 1,107 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior.

Campbell concluded his career with 305 receptions, an Ivy League record that remains fifth all-time in the NCAA FCS record book, 3,555 yards, and 31 touchdowns. Prior to the 2000 season, only Jerry Rice had broken the 300-career reception mark. His 7.62 career receptions per game set an NCAA record and now ranks fifth all-time. Campbell tallied 19 catches for 218 yards and two touchdowns against Rhode Island on Sept. 30, 2000, en route to earning The Sports Network National FCS Player of the Week honors. Campbell also contributed in the return game, finishing his career with 794 kick return yards, including a touchdown, and 620 punt return yards. He holds the Brown record for single-season punt return yards with 365 yards in 1997.