CLEMSON- When Isaiah Campbell visited Clemson the first time, during the spring game, he got Mary Poppins vibes.
The 4-star defensive lineman, out of Green Central (Snow Hill, NC), described that first visit as "super-cali-fragilistic-expialidocious," as he got a feel for the Clemson culture that so many recruits rave about.
Campbell's second and most recent visit came during Dabo Swinney's high school camps. The 6-foot-5, 265-pound prospect worked out during two different sessions, with the goal being this time to get a feel for how defensive tackles coach Nick Eason coaches his players.
"Seeing coach Nick Eason's play style," Campbell told All Clemson Tigers. "I was out there doing drills, and I was out there doing one-on-ones, and I learned coach Eason; how he taught and teaches players. I was pretty much just learning his coaching style."
Campbell also got a better understanding of the Tigers' philosophy on the defensive side of the ball, and now that he has seen it, he thinks he could fit into the scheme nicely.
"The D-Line is is an attack defense, where they get after the ball and they are not just holding the blocks," he said. "And I really liked that. I really like that defense and I feel like I can fit into it."
Campbell ranks as one of the top 125 players in the 2025 class and as one of the ten-best defensive tackles. He was arguably one of the most impressive defensive linemen to come through camp this summer and deservedly left town with an offer.
Staying overnight on campus also gave Campbell a better idea of what college life would be like at Clemson.
"That is tremendous. It's tremendous for me," Campbell said of the offer. I went down to the camps, to the three day overnight camp. I did two days overnight. Just to check out and see how it is. How Clemson is. I went down there to see how coach Eason taught and I got to speak to coach Dabo Swinney a few times. I just really wanted to get a more in-depth perspective with me actually being there. I think I got that. It is just tremendous."
Clemson, Notre Dame, South Carolina, LSU and Penn State are the schools that Campbell is hearing from the most these days, as he is quickly approaching the two dozen mark when it comes offers. Outside of the Clemson camp, Campbell said he was also planning to camp at Duke, Penn State and Notre Dame.
The blue-chip recruit would like to have a decision made before the end of his junior season, although that isn't set in stone. However, he does have a very clear idea of what it is he is looking for in a school, and academics will play a big role. Maybe the biggest. He also prefers to play in a four-man front and is looking for a coaching staff that shares his values.
"I'm looking for academics, I have a 4.28 GPA right now because I had all A's. I'm looking back at academics," Campbell said. "I'm looking to get my degree in three years. I'm looking for player development. I want to get better as a defensive lineman. I want the coach to depend on me to the best I can be in that system. Like if their a four man or three man front. One that attacks the ball. Coaching styles. I want to learn the coach. I want to I want to see his values. What does he value? How does he relate, how he builds relationships with his players or if he doesn't. I want to just see how that goes."
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