THE GAME
Gardner-Webb travels east to face new Big South Conference football member Campbell for the first time in either schools' senior college era. Kickoff is set for 4:00 pm in Buies Creek, N.C., as part of Homecoming Weekend. The game will stream live on ESPN3 (WatchESPN.com) with Evan Budrovich (PxP), Jay Sonnhalter (Analyst) and Erin Summers (Sideline) on the call.

  

SERIES NOTES
First meeting as senior colleges in the sport of football ... The two programs did meet 10 times as junior colleges from 1929-1950 ... Campbell holds a slight, 4-3-3 edge in that series ... Gardner-Webb won the last meeting between the two schools, 12-6, on November 11, 1950 in Buies Creek.

JUNIOR COLLEGE SERIES HISTORY (1929-1950)
11/16/1929 (Buies Creek, N.C.) – CAM 21, G-W 6
11/15/1930 (Shelby, N.C.) – G-W 0, CAM 0
10/08/1932 (Shelby, N.C.) – G-W 6, CAM 6
10/07/1933 (Buies Creek, N.C.) – G-W 18, CAM 13
10/24/1936 (Boiling Springs) – CAM 25, G-W 0
11/11/1937 (Gaffney, S.C.) – G-W 14, CAM 14
11/12/1938 (Buies Creek, N.C.) – CAM 13, G-W 0
11/06/1948 (Buies Creek, N.C.) – CAM 28, G-W 6
11/12/1949 (Boiling Springs) – G-W 35, CAM 0
11/11/1950 (Buies Creek, N.C.) – G-W 12, CAM 6

BABY BULLDOGS
Heading into this week's game at Campbell, Gardner-Webb remains one of the youngest teams in the league – if not the country. A stunning 43.5% of the two-deep chart (20-of-46 spots) on offense and defense is made up of freshmen. Two more freshmen start on the eight-man specialist depth chart.

MORE STARTERS LOST FOR WEEK EIGHT
Gardner-Webb has two more defensive starters out for its week #8 matchup at Campbell, with both potentially done of the rest of the season. Outside linebacker Malachi Bucker (6-1, 200, Fr.) is down with an injury, as well as safety Josh Carter (5-11, 195, Sr.). Both saw significant snaps vs. Kennesaw State two weeks ago. That marks five starters or potential starters on the defensive side out for the 2018 campaign with four games remaining on the slate. The Runnin' Bulldogs lost veteran nose guards Josh Ramseur and K'Maron Patterson before the season started and starting SPUR linebacker Robert McKoy (5-11, 220, RSo.) early in the season.

THE HEAD COACHES
Gardner-Webb head coach Carroll McCray (Class of '83) returned to his alma mater in 2013 and is 22-42 so far in his time in Boiling Springs. Former Carolina Panther Mike Minter (Nebraska '97) has Campbell in good shape in its first season of scholarship football in the Big South Conference, and has posted a 29-34 record overall during his time in Buies Creek.

MORE FRESHMEN NOTES
Gardner-Webb has compiled  37 total freshmen starts so far in 2018, including seven each by quarterback Jordan Smith, defensive end John Singleton and punter Crimmins Hankinson ... Almost half of the 37 freshmen starts this season have come from the State of Georgia (18) ... Other states represented are North Carolina (11) and Florida (7) ... Seven starts have come from former North Carolina Shrine Bowlers Singleton (7) and Matt Robinson (1).

ENGINE NO. 9
Quarterback Jordan Smith (6-1, 211, R-Fr.) has started each of the first seven games in 2018 and has seen several bright spots along the way. The Fruit Cove, Fla., has been at his best when faced with second or third down – and medium yardage. In those situations, he has gone 9-of-12 (75.0%) with seven first-down completions. Smith has passed for 967 yards and three scores so far in 2018, scrambling out of pressure despite 23 sacks registered by the opposition to date.

HIGH DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY
One season ago, Gardner-Webb entertained the nation's most difficult schedule according to the NCAA. In 2018, the Runnin' Bulldogs are tackling another very difficult slate, ranking No. 12 nationally after games of October 7. GWU was the first team in the FCS this season to do battle with three top-10 teams when it hosted No. 2 Kennesaw State on October 13. The 'Dogs have already fallen to No. 5 North Carolina A&T and No. 6 Wofford in prior weeks. Four of Gardner-Webb's first five FCS opponents this season are currently ranked in the top-25 (No. 2 Kennesaw State, No. 7 Wofford, No. 18 North Carolina A&T and No. 25 ETSU). Four more – Campbell, Charleston Southern, Monmouth and Western Carolina – have each received votes at least one week during the 2018 regular season. GWU's lone FBS opponent, Appalachian State, is ranked No. 25 this week by the Associated Press.

SPEED DEMON
Receiver and return man Kyle Horton (5-11, 178, Sr.) is fully healthy in his final campaign and has proven to be a dangerous weapon so far – despite not reaching the end zone through the season's first six games. The former Mallard Creek (N.C.) High standout has hauled in 27 balls for 338 yards (12.5 yards per catch) and has remained a dynamic punt returner. Horton ranks No. 8 nationally with an average of 15.2 yards per return so far in 2018, bringing 10 punts back for 152 yards. He caught six passes for 96 yards at No. 5 North Carolina A&T and hauled in three balls for 61 yards vs. Western Carolina. Horton added five catches for 74 yards vs. No. 6 Wofford.

QUICK MOVE
Current backup nose guard David Wilson (6-3, 332, R-Fr.) found out he was moving from his reserve offensive line spot to defense on Thursday, September 27 during team stretch. The Hope Mills, N.C., native found himself on the field against No. 6 Wofford two days later and remains in the rotation at nose guard heading into Week Eight. Wilson fared well against the Terriers statistically, making a pair of tackles and forcing a red zone fumble that Gardner-Webb recovered to thwart a deep Wofford drive. Wilson was one of seven freshmen on the field at once during several second-half series for the Gardner-Webb defense vs. Wofford. He also saw snaps at ETSU (10/6) and vs. No. 2 Kennesaw State (10/13) at nose guard.

BOOM BOOM
First-year starter Tre' Jackson (5-10, 226, R-Jr.) has proven to be a powerful kicker through eight games. The Newland, N.C., native has connected on five of his six field goal attempts this season, including a 41-yarder vs. Western Carolina (9/14) and a 40-yarder at No. 5 North Carolina A&T (9/8). He has been perfect on PAT kicks as well. Jackson's most impressive performance has come on kickoffs, where he has boomed 14-of-24 attempts into – or out of – the end zone for touchbacks.

FOOTBALL FAMILIES
Gardner-Webb features two families on its current roster with strong ties to college football. Nose guard Josh Ramseur (5-11, 286, R-Sr.), who will seek a medical redshirt in 2018, is one of five brothers in his family to play college football. Older brothers Kenneth (Gardner-Webb) and Tim (NC State) played collegiately in the 1990s, while brothers Tank (Tuskeegee) and Aaron (East Carolina) are currently on college rosters. Another set of brothers on Gardner-Webb's roster – Robert McKoy and Keante McNair – are part of a group of four brothers to play college football. Older siblings Terrell Manning (NC State) and Artemis Robinson (NC State) played collegiately, with Manning drafted by the Green Bay Packers in 2012. Current GWU teammates and brothers Elijah Rodgers (Fr.) and Kobe Rodgers (R-So.) are both expected to garner snaps in the secondary this season for the Runnin' Bulldogs.

SYMMETRY
For the first time since moving up to NCAA Division I in 2000, Gardner-Webb will alternate home and road dates evenly throughout a season. GWU almost pulled off the feat in 2010, but played its final two games back-to-back at home in Ernest W. Spangler Stadium.

FUTURE SCHEDULES
Gardner-Webb has added a handful of future FBS opponents for coming seasons, beginning with back-to-back games to open the 2019 campaign at Charlotte and East Carolina. With the addition of Hampton and North Alabama to the Big South slate, Gardner-Webb's 2019 schedule is complete. In addition to Charlotte and East Carolina, Gardner-Webb will have 2019 non-conference dates with North Carolina Central, Wofford and Western Carolina. GWU will play two future FBS games against nearby foes, traveling to face Georgia Tech in 2020 and Liberty in 2022.

NEW FACES ON STAFF
Gardner-Webb has three new coaches on its 2018 staff. Inside linebackers coach Taylor Anderson and running backs coach Arketa Banks each joined the Runnin' Bulldogs prior to spring practice. Anderson came to GWU after assistant coaching stops at Limestone and Valdosta State, and Banks came to GWU from former SAC rival Lenoir-Rhyne. Outside linebackers coach Marco Butler came on board during the summer months from Catawba. Anderson (North Greenville), Banks (Elon) and Butler (Western Carolina) each played collegiately at schools in the region.

CAM IN THE CLUTCH
Newcomer Cameron McCutcheon (6-3, 185, Fr.) was forced into significant duty at cornerback vs. No. 2 Kennesaw State on October 13 due to injuries at the position, and came away with a game-high nine total tackles in his first extended duty of the season. The former Seneca (S.C.) High track standout has excellent size and speed for his position, and should make a more notable impact as the season progressses. He has totaled 13 stops (10 solo) and a forced fumble so far this season.

ESPN+
The Big South Conference entered into an agreement to provide content for ESPN+ (ESPNPlus.com) beginning last spring, and that presents a new platform for Gardner-Webb football going forward. The Big South Network on ESPN+ will air a minimum of 900 events annually as part of the agreement, which runs through the 2024-2025 season. During football season, a total of 33 events will stream on ESPN platforms, with eight league games on ESPN3 and 25 on ESPN+.  Five of Gardner-Webb's six home games will stream on ESPN+, while the October 13 game vs. Kennesaw State will stream on ESPN3 as part of the Big South's "Game of the Week" selection. The October 29 road game at Campbell will also be carried by ESPN3, while the remainder of Gardner-Webb's Big South games will stream on ESPN+. Non-conference games at ETSU and Appalachian State  will also stream live on ESPN+.

BIG BAD JOHN
Gardner-Webb defensive end John Singleton (6-5, 240, R-Fr.) was a bright spot at Sun Belt powerhouse Appalachian State on September 22, finishing the game with a career-high six stops (three solo) and a sack. The former Middle Creek (N.C.) High standout followed that effort up with a career-high 10 total stops vs. No. 6 Wofford (9/29). Singleton, who has started all seven games this season, has posted 27 tackles and 2.0 sacks during his first season on the field.

RAMSEUR OUT
Preseason All-Big South nose guard Josh Ramseur (5-11, 286, R-Sr.) will miss the entire 2018 season after undergoing offseason surgery, but will apply for a medical redshirt and a sixth year of eligibility for 2019. The former Burns (N.C.) High standout totaled 50 tackles as a redshirt junior and is expected to make a full recovery. The bright spot in the extended career is that Ramseur will have a chance to play against his youngest brother – Aaron Ramseur – when Gardner-Webb travels to East Carolina on September 7, 2019.

HIT MAN
Mike linebacker Corey Horne (6-1, 225, Sr.) has been a mature force for Gardner-Webb's young defense so far this season, pacing the Big South Conference with 56 total tackles (38 solo). His 16 stops vs. Western Carolina were a new career-high total, breaking the mark set one week earlier when he had 12 tackles at No. 5 North Carolina A&T (9/8). Horne, who is in his second full season as a starter, ranks No. 10 nationally in solo tackles per game (6.3). 

OLD FACES, NEW PLACES
Gardner-Webb moved a pair of players to full-time slot receiver prior to the 2018 season and those moves have been well received so far. Former running back Jonathan Blackmon (6-1, 186, Sr.) caught a career-best nine balls at Appalachian State and is second on the team with 23 catches so far this season. The Fayetteville, N.C., native was an accomplished high school receiver before signing with Gardner-Webb as a running back prior to the 2015 season. He is currently sidelined with an injury. Former quarterback Brody Rollins (5-11, 185, Sr.) led Gardner-Webb in receptions last season – despite splitting time at his old position and as a kickoff return man – and provides another excellent option for GWU's young quarterbacks. The Knoxville, Tenn., native missed three games with an injury early in September, but is back in the lineup heading into October action.

UP NEXT
The Runnin' Bulldogs return home to host Presbyterian College at 1:30 pm on Saturday, November 3. It will be the final trip to Spangler Stadium for the Blue Hose, as Presbyterian makes the move down to the Pioneer Football League and non-scholarship football over the next two seasons. The Runnin' Bulldogs and Blue Hose game will stream live on ESPN+, with Fabian Fuentes calling the action.