New Campbell football coach Braxton Harris has a lot of roots in Texas.
He played quarterback at Mexia High in the eastern part of the state. He helped Mary Hardin-Baylor from Belton, Texas win a NCAA Division III national championship. He served in various coaching roles at Mary Hardin-Baylor, Waco High, Texas Lutheran and Howard Payne University in Brownwood, TX.
Harris joined Mike Minter’s staff at Campbell before the 2021 season but left after 2022 to take the head job at Houston Christian. The 2023 Huskies posted a winning record for the first time in program history under his tutelage.
Yet, when Campbell took the field at Barker-Lane Stadium on Saturday for its annual spring game, there was Harris, the Lone Star native, happily donning black and orange gear and leading the huddle.
“It’s a good day to be a Camel,” he said enthusiastically. “Beautiful weather out here … I tell you what, today was a great day. I woke up this morning and I was thankful to be the head football coach at Campbell University.”
Campbell officials lured Harris out of Texas for a second time in early January to help the program take the next leap forward as it settles into the ultra competitive Coastal Athletic Association. He replaces Mike Minter, who stepped down in the fall after being over the program for a decade.
The early returns appear positive.
“We have become closer as a team,” senior running back Lamagea McDowell (Gastonia | Hunter Huss HS) said after Saturday’s spring game, which featured about 75 minutes of live action. “We have been focusing on the smaller things, building character, getting involved in the community. It is definitely moving in the right direction.”
Start Quickly, Finish Strong
Campbell went 5-6 a year ago, including a respectable 4-4 in its first season in the CAA. The Camels took a nine-win North Carolina Central squad to overtime and lost by four to a solid Elon team. Right on the verge of a winning season and joining the upper half of the conference.
Harris likely remembers how his first stint at Campbell finished in 2022, with the Camels posting another 5-6 record but dropping four of the last five games — each by eight points or less. That has fueled messaging to his team this spring.
“Offensively and defensively we’ve got to come out and be ready to play,” he said. “Then the big piece for us is that we’ve got to finish stronger. We’ve got to go win the fourth quarter — character, grit, those things matter in the fourth quarter.”
To that end, Harris said he was pleased with the spring game output: two rushing touchdowns, three passing scores, a few takeaways and multiple redzone stops.
“They have not backed down from one challenge that we put in front of them. That’s a resilient football team,” Harris said. “Resilient football teams win in the fourth quarter.”
Impact Players
Campbell has key holes to fill, like most teams this time of year. All-conference lineman Mike Edwards is awaiting a possible NFL chance, along with fellow bulldozing lineman Tyler McLellan. Quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams went into the portal in the fall and landed at UNLV. VJ Wilkins, a freshman All-American receiver (52 catches, 546 yards, 4 TDs in 2023), announced on social media today (April 16) that he is entering the transfer portal.
Harris and his staff have already tabbed rising redshirt sophomore Chad Mascoe from Kissimmee, Fla., as the projected starter at quarterback. Mascoe threw for 686 yards and four touchdowns in 2022, but saw limited action last fall with Williams at the helm.
Mascoe did not play in Saturday’s spring game. Harris said he was held out for “precautionary” reasons.
“He is quarterback one, there is no question about it,” Harris said. “I knew Chad from when I was here before. He had a really good spring being able to operate the offense and to not just be a guy on the field but to be the guy in that spot.”
Campbell’s top two rushers return, McDowell (505 yards, 6 TDs) and NaQuari Rogers from Virginia Beach (475 yards, 6 TDs). Receiver Ezeriah Anderson (Seffner, Fla.) caught 35 passes, with four touchdowns, a year ago. Chaney Fitzgerald (Kernersville | Glenn HS) also is slated to be back after grabbing 49 passes a year ago with three touchdowns).
Sincere Brown, a redshirt senior transfer from South Florida (Charleston, SC), had a big spring game, catching two TD passes. “He’s going to be a real X-factor for us,” McDowell said. Added Harris of the 6-5 wideout: “He is just dynamic with the ball in his hands. He goes up and makes plays.”
Defensively, leading tackler CJ Tillman returns to lead the way. The Rockingham native (Richmond Senior HS) piled up 98 tackles a year ago and forced a couple of fumbles.
Defensive lineman Ethan Quarshie (Snellville, Ga.), linebacker George Wilson (Virginia Beach) and defensive back Trevon Booker (Indianapolis) also are key returnees for the defense.
Tillman said improvements in discipline will be key for the Camels.
“Are we killing ourselves with pre-snap and post-snap penalties and offsides?” he asked. “Can we eliminate those? The best teams, the ones that make the playoffs, don’t make those mistakes.”
Tough Schedule Awaits
It will be almost a month into the season before Campbell fans get to see their team at home. The Braxton Harris head coaching era will start with three tough opponents on the road.
The opener will come at Liberty on Aug. 31. The Flames are coming off a 13-1, a No. 25 national ranking and an appearance in the Fiesta Bowl (falling to Oregon).
Trips to Western Carolina (7-4) and Rhode Island (6-5) follow next. Campbell will finally come home Sept. 21 to face Stony Brook. Home dates against Delaware State and North Carolina Central from the MEAC follow next.
—> READ MORE: Campbell, Elon, NC A&T unveil 12-game schedules
—> READ MORE: Camels’ recruiting class ranked among tops in FCS
While a playoff berth may be a longshot this fall, Harris believes Campbell will be contending for a spot in the FCS post-season sooner rather than later.
“The thing I would tell everybody is wait till the next five years and see what it holds,” the coach said. “This is a sleeping giant that is about to wake up and be able to be competitive in the best conference in college football.”
