The Next Level: Campanaro propels Wake to win
The Next Level is a weekly Recruiting Report feature that focuses on natives of Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Harford County and Howard County who appear on NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision rosters. Chris Eckard, a senior at the University of Maryland and Baltimore Sun sports department intern, is your author.
Before injuring his right hamstring on the final drive of the second quarter, Wake Forest sophomore wide receiver Michael Campanaro (River Hill) made a crucial impact against North Carolina State. During the team’s opening drive, Campanaro caught a 31-yard touchdown pass to give the Demon Deacons a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
But the sophomore wasn’t finished. On a trick play in the second quarter, Campanaro threw his first collegiate pass – a 40-yard touchdown bomb. When he went down with the injury on a 21-yard reception on third down, Campanaro already had a career-high 93 yards on five receptions.
While he didn’t return, the wide receiver’s play was crucial in Wake Forest’s 34-27 win against the Wolfpack. Defensively for Wake Forest, junior linebacker Joey Ehrmann (Gilman) finished with a tackle in the win.
Through the first two games, Campanaro is Wake Forest’s second-leading receiver with 172 yards on 12 receptions. For his efforts against N.C. State, Campanaro is your Next Level Player of the Week.
Honorable mention
• Junior wide receiver Tavon Austin (Dunbar) led West Virginia with six receptions, finishing with 82 yards and a touchdown in the No. 19 Mountaineers’ 55-12 win against Norfolk State. His 3-yard touchdown reception was part of a 28-point third quarter as West Virginia recovered from a first-half deficit. Austin also had a 64-yard punt return (three for 86 yards total) and a 25-yard kickoff return. Defensively for West Virginia junior safety Terence Garvin (Loyola) had eight tackles (six solo).
• Junior wide receiver Alec Lemon (Arundel) led Syracuse with 10 receptions for 94 yards and a touchdown in the Orange’s 21-14 win against Rhode Island.
• Virginia Tech sophomore cornerback Kyle Fuller (Mount St. Joseph) recorded four tackles (three solo) and intercepted a pass against East Carolina in the third quarter. On the next play, Pirates sophomore defensive end Derrell Johnson (Cardinal Gibbons) forced a fumble to regain possession. The Hokies went on to win 17-10, while Johnson finished with three tackles.
• Mississippi senior defensive end Wayne Dorsey (Southwestern) recorded three tackles (1 solo), a sack and an interception (27-yard return) in the Rebels’ 42-24 win against Southern Illinois.
Other contributions
• Central Michigan sophomore safety Leron Eaddy (River Hill) recorded a tackle and forced a fumble in Central Michigan’s 27-13 loss to Kentucky.
• Arkansas State senior cornerback Darron Edwards (Dunbar) recorded four tackles (two solo) in the Red Wolves’ 47-3 rout of Memphis.
• Colorado State sophomore linebacker Shaquil Barrett (a Baltimore native who graduated from Boys Town High in Nebraska) recorded two tackles and broke up a pass in the Rams’ 33-14 win against Northern Colorado.
• Connecticut junior safety Jerome Junior (Archbishop Curley) recorded eight tackles (five solo) as the Huskies fell 24-12 to Vanderbilt.
• North Carolina senior linebacker Zach Brown (Wilde Lake) recorded six tackles (three solo) in the Tar Heels’ 24-22 win against Rutgers. Brown finished with 1.5 sacks, with a loss of eight yards. Rutgers sophomore linebacker Nick DePaola (Hereford) recorded a tackle.
• Penn State true freshman safety Adrian Amos (Calvert Hall) returned two kickoffs for a total of 31 yards in the Nittany Lions’ 27-11 loss to Alabama.
• San Jose State senior cornerback Brandon Driver (Parkville) had five tackles (four solo) in the Spartans’ 27-17 loss to UCLA.
• Temple junior running back Matt Brown (Baltimore native who graduated from New Jersey's Peddie School) rushed 16 times for a total of 91 yards in the Owls’ 41-3 rout of Akron. Brown also returned two punts for a total of 21 yards.
• UAB sophomore quarterback Jonathan Perry (Dunbar) misfired on his lone passing attempt, but rushed for 10 yards and three carries in the Blazers’ 39-0 loss to No. 18 Florida.
• UNLV freshman defensive back Mike Horsey (Dunbar) had two tackles (one solo) in the Rebels’ 59-7 loss to Washington State.
• Utah State wide receiver Xavier Martin recorded a 31-yard catch in the Aggies’ 54-17 rout of Weber State.
• Virginia freshman wide receiver Darius Jennings (Gilman) recorded a 13-yard catch, returned a punt for three yards and took back five kickoffs for a total of 96 yards in the Cavaliers’ 34-31 win against Indiana. Virginia senior defensive tackle Nick Jenkins (Good Counsel grad, Westminster native) assisted on a tackle in the victory.
US Presswire photo of Michael Campanaro by Jeremy Brevard / Sept. 10, 2011
Comments
Chris Eckard is the greatest writer of all-time
Posted by: Steve | September 12, 2011 9:58 PM
What about Frederick County .. Alex Eckard..
Great Job Chris !
Posted by: Bill | September 15, 2011 6:25 PM