This is the interview with campbell from yesterday.
If National Signing Day was tomorrow, five-star cornerback Tyson Campbell says he could make a decision.
But since it’s not he’ll take a few of his five allotted official visits before National Signing Day in February. He says a decision could come sooner than that.
“I just want to be sure,” the Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) American Heritage cornerback told 247Sports as he checked in Sunday for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.
While one (unnamed) school seems to lead the others down the stretch, there are several situations that the 6-foot-2 1/2, 180-pound Campbell feels good about.
“I’d say I trust Coach (Mike) Rumph at Miami, Coach (Mike) Reed at Clemson, Coach (James) Coley and Coach (Mel) Tucker and Coach (Kirby) Smart at Georgia and Coach (Derrick) Ansley and Coach (Nick) Saban from Alabama. There are other schools still talking to me, I’m keeping my options open, I still have LSU, Ohio State, Tennessee is trying to talk to me now, but I’d say those four schools are the main schools coming at me the hardest.”
Campbell has been to local Miami the most and has watched the program turnaround under Mark Richt and company.
“It’s great to see how he came into a program that wasn’t doing so well, had some bad years and he just came in and worked with the guys and helped them win their first bowl game in a couple years (the first season) and the following year had a big season winning the (ACC) Coastal and having a 10-win season.”
A couple things make Miami right.
“The depth they have at my position and just being from Miami,” he said. “Being close to home.”
Campbell predicted Georgia would win this year’s National Championship.
“They were one of the only schools I kept in contact with during the season,” Campbell said. He’s been to Athens twice.
“The future they have, I think they’re a school that truly believes they need a guy like me to help contribute to that program’s success. I feel that Coach Tucker and Coach Smart know what they’re doing and get their guys to come out every Saturday and get the W.”
Campbell looks forward to getting back to UGA.
“Just the vibe I got,” he said of what stood out the previous times. “My parents enjoyed it as well. Just how people were talking, how everyone was pretty much cool as far as the coaching staff, graduate assistants to the students.”
The Crimson Tide have always been considered a contender for Campbell.
“Alabama is a school that’s been recruiting me since I was a sophomore,” Campbell said. “The relationship I built with Coach Saban and Coach Ansley, we talk almost every day. I feel like Bama can help me get where i want to be which is the NFL. They win, I come from a high school program that wins and I feel like that goes hand in hand with how we connect with each other.”
His official to Tuscaloosa will be his third time on campus.
“My first time I was a sophomore so I wasn’t offered but I toured the facilities and I was just in awe of how the players worked. How the coaches were coaching. The second time which was recently this spring, I had great talks with Coach Saban and Coach Ansley and really a couple other players that talked to me about how this program helps them become better athletes and better people.”
Clemson was the program that got the process off and running for Campbell.
“Since they were the first team to offer me, it was the team I favored, but then there was a period of time when I was like maybe Clemson is not the school. Now Clemson could be one of those schools.”
Campbell has clicked with Reed.
“He’s one of those coaches that I like talking to,” Campbell said. “He keeps it real. Great convos not only about football but life itself. I feel like he could be the type of coach that help me become a great player.”
Campbell has also been to Clemson twice.
“Everyone on campus is real nice people,” he said. “It’s a type of school you’ll be happy at.”
The program that lands Campbell will be ecstatic. My 247Sports Crystal Ball is on Miami but I'm close to being the first to forecast Georgia after talking with him today.
