Junior running back Brandon Campbell enrolled at Katy High on March 26 with the intent of joining the Tigers’ football program once school is permitted to resume.

“My mom wanted to get back to Katy,” Campbell said. “After I graduate, she wanted to be back in a town she was comfortable with, so it wasn’t really anything I could control. I couldn’t really turn down the opportunity. I’ve been in Katy ISD previously, since second grade, and I always liked it. She started me out over here because of the education.”

The UIL has suspended athletics since March 16 due to precautions for the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19. Katy ISD has postponed the opening of its schools until April 13, at the earliest.

Campbell said he has yet to talk with Katy coach Gary Joseph but is excited about the prospect of being a Tiger.

“I just want to contribute,” he said. “I just want to help build myself mentally and physically, and build my character so I’ll be ready for college and the next level by January.”

Campbell said he will graduate in December to get a head start on his college career by enrolling early. He verbally committed to play at USC on March 28.

The 5-foot-10, 190-pound Campbell, a four-star athlete, played at Pearland High last season, where he racked up 879 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns with 280 receiving yards and three touchdowns. Campbell averaged 7.6 yards per carry. He left Pearland after last semester, enrolled at Lamar Consolidated High in Rosenberg, and then officially enrolled at Katy on Thursday.

Campbell transferred to Pearland after spending his sophomore season at Taylor. As part of a three-man rotation in the backfield, Campbell rushed for 676 yards and five touchdowns for the Mustangs to go with 198 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

Campbell has 40 offers to play college football and chose the Trojans in a Twitter announcement late Saturday night over Penn State.

“They didn’t take a running back in 2020, and they told me the spring when I come in, I’ll be competing with one guy for the starting spot,” said Campbell, who plans to study criminal justice or sports marketing. “California is a big media town, but I’m going from one big city to another big city so it’s not really going to be a hard adjustment for me. It’ll be pretty smooth.”

According to 247sports, Campbell runs the 40-yard dash in 4.58 seconds and has a 36.4-inch vertical jump. On the field, Campbell is highly regarded as an athletic playmaker who can be a three-down back because of his pass-catching ability.

He said he is a more mature player than two years ago when he last played in Katy.

“I’m more patient as a runner, I can set up my blocks a lot better,” Campbell said. “I’m stronger. I’m smarter. I pick and choose my spots better.”

Campbell grew up in Katy, attending Schmalz Elementary, McRoberts Elementary and Cardiff Junior High before starting his high school career at Mayde Creek and his varsity football career at Taylor. He recently returned to Katy because his mother, Angela Green, moved back within the district.

Katy High graduated its top running back from last season in Ron Hoff, who rushed for 1,473 yards and 16 touchdowns, but returns two backs with veteran experience in Sherman Smith and Jalen Davis, both of whom will be seniors. Smith, a two-year varsity letterman, rushed for 409 yards and five touchdowns last year, while Davis totaled 946 yards and 12 touchdowns in his first year of varsity play.

“I just want to step in and compete and give it all I’ve got,” Campbell said. “It’s cool to come back where everything started. I’m excited to get ready and prepare myself for college.”