Former UK star Wan’Dale Robinson came to watch UK commit Javeon Campbell play at Western Hills. (Western Hills Football Photo)
Current NFL receiver Wan’Dale Robinson impacted a lot of younger athletes during his spectacular high school football season at Western Hills where he swept the state’s top individual awards his senior year.
He finished his prep career with 8,582 total yards and 118 touchdowns. He ran for 6,795 yards and 97 touchdowns while averaging over 11 yards per carry. He caught 102 passes for 1,787 yards and 21 scores. His 781 career points ranked second on the state’s all-time scoring list.
Robinson played two years at Nebraska before transferring to UK for the 2018 season when he had 104 catches for 1,334 yards and seven touchdowns in 13 games.
Current Kentucky commit Javeon Campbell, a Western Hills defensive lineman, only came to a “few” games when Robinson was playing in high school.
“My brother was in high school when he (Robinson) was in high school. I knew who he was but I didn’t really know him,” Campbell said. “I heard his name a lot and what he did on the field. I heard a lot about him.”
Now Robinson is taking what time he can to mentor Campbell, who turned down some of the nation’s best football programs to commit to UK.
“That means a lot to me and it shows that he sees potential in me and that maybe I could do what he did,” Campbell said.
Robinson even found a way to get back to Frankfort for Campbell’s commitment ceremony after getting a message from UK recruiting coordinator Vince Marrow about the commitment ceremony.
“Obviously it was a busy time for him but he chose to come back for it,” Western Hills coach Simon Vanderpool said. “Just doing that and being here with Javeon was special. He didn’t really want to be seen but he wanted to be there for Javeon.”
Now Campbell has become a mentor for Western Hills sophomore defensive back JuJu Harmon, who has a Kentucky offer already.
“I do want to do all I can to help him and others,” Campbell said.
The UK commit is not focusing on any potential postseason awards like the ones Robinson won his senior year.
“I really don’t think about it but if it happens, it happens,” Campbell said. “It was crazy when I jumped up into No. 1 in the rankings (in the state). That’s something I had never thought much about.”
One Response
Campbell is going to be Josh Allen type of player. The only difference is he has a college ready body. Josh Allen has to work his butt of his first year to look like Campbell. I’m not going to say he comes in and starts but I think he plays backup his freshman year and then takes over in year 2 on campus. He has All SEC ability. As long as Campbell works hard he will be a great great mainstay on the defense for 3 years. Congrats on all your hard work and thank you for choosing Kentucky. Your a hometown hero.