University of Georgia Athletics
Quick Chat: Tyson Campbell
November 03, 2020 | Football, The Frierson Files
By John Frierson
Staff Writer
Tyson Campbell didn't grow up following the Georgia-Florida rivalry very closely. The junior cornerback is from Plantation, Fla., near Miami, but the annual football showdown between the Bulldogs and Gators, which will resume Saturday in Jacksonville, wasn't really on his radar.
Campbell was a star player at American Heritage School, as were former Bulldogs Sony Michel and Isaiah McKenzie. Campbell won two state championships in high school and went 50-5 during his career. He knows a thing or two about winning, for sure.
During a Quick Chat after practice Monday, Campbell talked about home, winning, Halloween, music and much more. Here's some of what he had to say:
Frierson: It's Georgia-Florida week so let's start with the most important question, what is your favorite Halloween candy?
Campbell: Probably Snickers or Sour Punch Straws. I don't really like sour candy but I like those in particular.
Frierson: Did you have a favorite Halloween costume when you were a kid?
Campbell: I didn't really dress up that much. I remember when I was little I was Scooby-Doo one time.
Frierson: What is it like growing up in Plantation, in South Florida?
Campbell: It was cool; I didn't grow up by the beach or anything, but it was nice because most of my family is always there and so it always felt like home. And sports-wise, you've got a bunch of talent around. Most of your friends are talented in football so it just makes the competitive nature of the game so much better.
Frierson: You won two state titles at American Heritage and your teams went 50-5 during your four years, so what is it like being a part of that kind of winning? What does that teach you?
Campbell: It teaches you that in order to win those games you need everybody to be on board with the team and you need everybody to have a strong work ethic. You have to have that ambitiousness to keep pushing through adversity and when you're on the top as well, just to keep maintaining that top mentality when everybody's trying to come for you and give you that first "L" of the season or that first "L" to stop a large winnings streak.
Frierson: How much does playing in a super-successful program with a bunch of guys that are going on to major colleges train you for a place like Georgia where you know the expectations are really high and you know that you've got to put in a lot of work?
Campbell: It's just like anybody else making that transition from high school to college, but it also gives you that inspiration that kids coming from your high school have come here and did what they dreamed of, and now they're living the dream of playing in the NFL. It was definitely motivating.
Frierson: Was Georgia-Florida a big deal when you were young? Was this a game that you paid much attention to?
Campbell: No, not really.
Frierson: So what's it like coming into it as someone mostly unfamiliar with the rivalry?
Campbell: It's pretty cool just being able to be a part of history and being able to a part of one of the biggest rivalries in college football. It's exciting and this is always one of the biggest games of the season for us every year.
Frierson: Do you have a creative side? Is there anything creative you do or wish you could do?
Campbell: I do like music, but I can't draw or anything. I'm really like a fan of old-school type music and I listen to modern music, R&B, like '90s R&B, pop, and all that kind of stuff.
Frierson: What do you listen to before a game? Do you have a regular playlist or do you mix it up all the time?
Campbell: I'll mix it up but it's usually rap. As far as the artists, I'll mix it up. Sometimes it will be Rick Ross, Future, Kodak Black, YoungBoy, mainly those people.
Frierson: What other sports did you play growing up?
Campbell: I played baseball for a little bit, then I moved to basketball, I was pretty good at basketball, and then I played football. In about seventh grade I also started running track.
Frierson: What was your favorite among the other sports?
Campbell: It's got to be a tie between track and basketball.
Frierson: Do you remember your first dunk?
Campbell: My first dunk was in ninth grade. I was just playing around with friends when I did it. I remember in middle school everybody was trying to see who could touch the rim or touch the net, but I dunked in ninth grade.
It was cool, it was like a "wow" experience, like, wow, I really just did that.
Frierson: If you could be great at anything for a day, just to experience it, what would it be?
Campbell: Drawing, I think. I just think it's amazing how some people can draw or paint certain pictures and stuff like that. I think that's pretty cool.
Frierson: If you could travel anywhere in the world on somebody else's dime, where would you like to go and who would you take with you?
Campbell: I would go to Bora Bora and I would take my girlfriend. I just think it seems really peaceful and a place where you can free your mind, no distractions, you're by the water, the nature, the sand and the trees and the flowers — it just seems really peaceful. It looks like a place where you can be yourself and free your mind.
(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)
Staff Writer
Tyson Campbell didn't grow up following the Georgia-Florida rivalry very closely. The junior cornerback is from Plantation, Fla., near Miami, but the annual football showdown between the Bulldogs and Gators, which will resume Saturday in Jacksonville, wasn't really on his radar.
Campbell was a star player at American Heritage School, as were former Bulldogs Sony Michel and Isaiah McKenzie. Campbell won two state championships in high school and went 50-5 during his career. He knows a thing or two about winning, for sure.
During a Quick Chat after practice Monday, Campbell talked about home, winning, Halloween, music and much more. Here's some of what he had to say:
Frierson: It's Georgia-Florida week so let's start with the most important question, what is your favorite Halloween candy?
Campbell: Probably Snickers or Sour Punch Straws. I don't really like sour candy but I like those in particular.
Frierson: Did you have a favorite Halloween costume when you were a kid?
Campbell: I didn't really dress up that much. I remember when I was little I was Scooby-Doo one time.
Frierson: What is it like growing up in Plantation, in South Florida?
Campbell: It was cool; I didn't grow up by the beach or anything, but it was nice because most of my family is always there and so it always felt like home. And sports-wise, you've got a bunch of talent around. Most of your friends are talented in football so it just makes the competitive nature of the game so much better.
Frierson: You won two state titles at American Heritage and your teams went 50-5 during your four years, so what is it like being a part of that kind of winning? What does that teach you?
Campbell: It teaches you that in order to win those games you need everybody to be on board with the team and you need everybody to have a strong work ethic. You have to have that ambitiousness to keep pushing through adversity and when you're on the top as well, just to keep maintaining that top mentality when everybody's trying to come for you and give you that first "L" of the season or that first "L" to stop a large winnings streak.
Frierson: How much does playing in a super-successful program with a bunch of guys that are going on to major colleges train you for a place like Georgia where you know the expectations are really high and you know that you've got to put in a lot of work?
Campbell: It's just like anybody else making that transition from high school to college, but it also gives you that inspiration that kids coming from your high school have come here and did what they dreamed of, and now they're living the dream of playing in the NFL. It was definitely motivating.
Frierson: Was Georgia-Florida a big deal when you were young? Was this a game that you paid much attention to?
Campbell: No, not really.
Frierson: So what's it like coming into it as someone mostly unfamiliar with the rivalry?
Campbell: It's pretty cool just being able to be a part of history and being able to a part of one of the biggest rivalries in college football. It's exciting and this is always one of the biggest games of the season for us every year.
Frierson: Do you have a creative side? Is there anything creative you do or wish you could do?
Campbell: I do like music, but I can't draw or anything. I'm really like a fan of old-school type music and I listen to modern music, R&B, like '90s R&B, pop, and all that kind of stuff.
Frierson: What do you listen to before a game? Do you have a regular playlist or do you mix it up all the time?
Campbell: I'll mix it up but it's usually rap. As far as the artists, I'll mix it up. Sometimes it will be Rick Ross, Future, Kodak Black, YoungBoy, mainly those people.
Frierson: What other sports did you play growing up?
Campbell: I played baseball for a little bit, then I moved to basketball, I was pretty good at basketball, and then I played football. In about seventh grade I also started running track.
Frierson: What was your favorite among the other sports?
Campbell: It's got to be a tie between track and basketball.
Frierson: Do you remember your first dunk?
Campbell: My first dunk was in ninth grade. I was just playing around with friends when I did it. I remember in middle school everybody was trying to see who could touch the rim or touch the net, but I dunked in ninth grade.
It was cool, it was like a "wow" experience, like, wow, I really just did that.
Frierson: If you could be great at anything for a day, just to experience it, what would it be?
Campbell: Drawing, I think. I just think it's amazing how some people can draw or paint certain pictures and stuff like that. I think that's pretty cool.
Frierson: If you could travel anywhere in the world on somebody else's dime, where would you like to go and who would you take with you?
Campbell: I would go to Bora Bora and I would take my girlfriend. I just think it seems really peaceful and a place where you can free your mind, no distractions, you're by the water, the nature, the sand and the trees and the flowers — it just seems really peaceful. It looks like a place where you can be yourself and free your mind.
(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)
Assistant Sports Communications Director John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files. He's also on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.
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