After doing a little research on these chiseled Colorado siblings, you’re left with one pressing question: can we still get our money back?
Most informed Montana football fans are aware brothers Ciarre and Severin Campbell are fighting for playing time on the Griz defense. Ciarre is a 22-year-old transfer from Colorado State who utilizes sprinter speed at cornerback. Severin is a wiry 19-year-old freshman with the potential to be a stellar linebacker when he adds more bulk.
Ciarre and Severin are two of five brothers playing on the collegiate level. Calais and Jared Campbell are members of the University of Miami (Florida) football team, and the oldest of the bunch, Raj, plays for Adams State.
"I'm used to playing with at least one of my brothers every year since I was little and through high school," said Severin, who tallied two tackle assists in last Saturday’s opener and is listed at No. 2 on the Griz depth chart.
"That's one of the reasons it’s pretty cool Ciarre is here at Montana now."
Put the Campbells in a line and you’d have a hard time guessing they’re all sons of Charles and Nateal. They vary greatly in size and each plays a different position.
Calais is a 6-foot-8, 280-pound defensive lineman named to Playboy’s 2007 All-America team and regarded as perhaps the best young defensive lineman in the country. Jared is a ’Canes freshman touted as a Ronnie Lott-type safety.
Throw in Ciarre at corner, Severin at linebacker and Raj at wide receiver for the "other" Grizzlies at Adams State, and you’ve got quite the variety pack.
"My dad just put us all in football,” Severin recalled. “We’ve all liked it a lot since we were about six."
Ciarre says his decision to transfer from a Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) program to Montana had as much to do with the Grizzlies’ success as his brother.
Knowing how good Ciarre is in track, it’s a wonder he continues to play football. Especially when you consider his senior season of high school football was cut short by a broken arm.
"I knew (Montana coach Bobby Hauck) from when he recruited me in high school," Ciarre said. "I just wanted to see how I could do with the tradition they have up here. And it’s always good to go somewhere where there’s family."
Ciarre’s persistence - he practiced with the Colorado State football team for three seasons and never lettered n is beginning to pay off in Missoula. He played several series at corner for the Griz in the fourth quarter of last Saturday’s win over Southern Utah.
"It felt pretty good to be in there and then to see Severin make a good play, tipping the ball and then we got an interception to kind of seal it," Ciarre said. "I had a play where I tried to close up on a receiver after he caught the ball and he didn’t get any yards, so that felt good.
"You couldn’t see any empty seats at the game, and it’s good to see that kind of support. They pretty much have a winning tradition and everybody’s into it."
Ciarre said he plans on running track for Montana, and the coaches would love to have him. Last year at Colorado State he finished second in the Mountain West Conference Indoor Championships in the long jump. His personal record in the event is 25 feet, and he has been clocked at 11.17 in the 100-meter dash.
For now, Ciarre is concentrating on defense and learning the schemes of the Griz secondary. He’s also doing his best to fill the role of big brother.
"Ciarre helps me out sometimes," said Severin, who also plays special teams for the Griz. "We hang out together, but we also have our own friends.
"He’s someone I can talk to."
Likewise, Ciarre is thankful to have Severin around to help him fit into a program he describes as “different” than Colorado State in terms of focus and intensity.
"Because we’re both on the defense, we’ll prepare together," Ciarre said. "That way we’re making sure we both understand everything."
Sports writer Bill Speltz can be reached at 523-5255 or by e-mail at bill.speltz@lee.net.
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