The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
DJ Campbell selected in sixth round of NFL Draft by Miami Dolphins
04.25.2026 | Football
The offensive lineman went 200 overall in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Miami, Fla. – Texas offensive lineman DJ Campbell was taken 200th overall in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins on Saturday.
Campbell become the third-straight Longhorn in this year's draft to be selected by Miami, joining Trey Moore in the fourth round with the 130th overall pick, and Michael Taaffe in the fifth round with the 158th overall pick. That marks the first time that three Texas players have been taken by the same team since the draft went to seven rounds in 1994, and the first time it has happened overall since 1984 by the St. Louis Cardinals.
He is also the fourth UT player taken by the Dolphins in the last three years, including QB Quinn Ewers who was selected in the seventh round of last year's draft. Prior to that, DB Brandon Jones had been chosen in the third round in 2020.
Campbell is now the fifth UT offensive linemen selected in the last three NFL Drafts. It is also the third-straight year a Longhorn offensive lineman has been drafted, the first time that has been accomplished at Texas since 2006-08 and matching the program's longest streak in the Common Draft era (since 1967). UT also accomplished it in 1995-97 and 2001-03. The Horns had only two offensive linemen selected in the 15 Drafts from 2009-23.
Campbell is also the fifth Longhorn selected in this year's draft, making it the third-straight year Texas had had at least five players selected. That is the first time that has happened since 2006-08 and just the second time in the Common Draft era (since 1967) the Longhorns have accomplished that feat.
"DJ is a big, physical guard, a guy who's a road-grader on the inside," said Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian. "He got a ton of experience and played a lot of football for us – and got better every year. That experience of starting every game for us the last three years and the leadership and steady improvement he made will really pay off at the next level. I think his best football is ahead and Miami got a talented, hard-working lineman with a bright future."
Campbell played in 50 games with 43 starts over four seasons at Texas. During his time on the Forty Acres, he helped the Longhorns to a 43-13 overall record, back-to-back College Football Playoff semifinals appearances in 2023 and 2024, an SEC Championship Game appearance and the league's best regular season record in 2024, and the Big 12 Championship in 2023.
As a senior in 2025, Campbell started all 13 games at right guard. The Arlington, Texas, native helped protected sophomore quarterback Arch Manning, a semifinalist for the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award, in all 13 games. Manning completed 248-of-404 passes (61.4%) for 3,116 yards and 26 touchdowns, recording three games with at least 300 passing yards and three touchdown passes without an interception, tied for the most such games by a Power Conference quarterback during the regular season. Over the last six games, the Texas offense averaged over 412 yards and 34 points per contest.
In 2024, Campbell was part of an offensive line unit that was a finalist for the Joe Moore Award. The group protected quarterback Quinn Ewers, who completed 293-of-445 passes (65.8%) for 3,472 yards and 31 touchdowns across 14 starts. Ewers ranked sixth in the FBS in passing touchdowns, 14th in passing yards and points responsible for (202), and among the top 30 nationally in passing efficiency (149), passing yards per game (248.0) and completion percentage. The Longhorns averaged 278.8 passing yards (14th FBS), 158.8 rushing yards and 33.0 points (29th FBS) per game. Campbell also helped block for a rushing attack that produced 1,064 yards from Jaydon Blue and Wisner.
As a sophomore in 2023, Campbell helped anchor an offensive line that was a Joe Moore Award semifinalist. The unit blocked for Doak Walker Award semifinalist Jonathon Brooks and Davey O'Brien Award semifinalist Ewers, while helping Brooks rush for 1,158 yards, CJ Baxter add 659 yards and Blue contribute 398 yards. Texas produced its fifth 1,000- and 600-yard rushing duo in program history that season.
