On the inaugural weekend of a full slate of football, the Cincinnati Bearcats new staff led by coach Calhoun continue to make headlines, this time bringing in last years MAC defensive player of the year Javontae Campbell!

Campbell transfers in after a successful tenure at Bowling Green where he played the 2024-25 and the 2025-26 seasons. Before that, he played for Northern Oklahoma College where he averaged 26 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists for the Mavericks.

Last season at Bowling Green, he started all 32 games and played 34 minutes per game. He averaged 19 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals while shooting 50% from the field, 32% from deep and 76% from the FT line. He is not a volume shooter from 3, taking just 2 shots per game. However, he was taking 13 shots per game overall and getting to the line 7 times per game for the Falcons last year.

In an offense where he is not going to be relied on as the main scorer, he can immediately come in and provide an impact on both offense and defense. This addition helps solidify what is a bit of a thin room overall as MJ Collins Jr. is currently ineligible, and Tylen Riley is currently sidelined with a hand injury. While Riley gets back to game form and Collins’ court dealings play out, Campbell likely moves to PG1 on the depth chart, taking some of the pressure off of transfer Elijah Perryman. Campbell prefers to get to the rim and his first step is lethal. He’ll bring a different element than most of the guards for UC this year.

I watched Campbell in person last season put up 24 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists against then undefeated Miami (OH) in front of a raucous crowd. Campbell was never afraid of the moment and was the most dynamic player on the Falcons. He’s the kind of guy who will come in and help solidify the culture that Jarrod Calhoun and co. are trying to build.

Campbell is a part of the 5-for-5 lawsuit in Oklahoma, which has not been stayed as of this moment, and he remains fully eligible to play. We will await court rulings to see if that ends up changing.

MJ Collins’ next hearing is on 9/22 and we will look for more clarity surrounding his eligibility at that time, though it will likely move towards October before a ruling is made.