You’ll have to excuse Orlando Dr. Phillips offensive tackle John Campbell if he sounds unimpressed when he talks about receiving a scholarship offer from Alabama on Saturday.
“I don’t really show a lot of emotion and stuff. I just be chillin.’ I’m just pretty chill,” Campbell said. “I feel great. I’m just blessed to have 29 offers. God gave me the size and talent to do what I do on the field.
“I just see it as another blessing that God gave me. I know it’s one of the best schools and that’s where all the best tackles, all the best players come out of, but I’m just like, different. I’m just mellow about everything.”
Every high school football player in the country covets a scholarship offer to play football at the University of Alabama. Why wouldn’t they? Nick Saban’s program has become the gold standard of college football.
The Crimson Tide have won four of the last eight national championships. Alabama has had 49 players drafted into the NFL since 2010.
But the 6-foot-5, 280-pound Campbell’s reaction to his offer Saturday was just like the reaction he has had for all the other 28 scholarship offers he has received.
Pictures: John Campbell, Orlando Dr. Phillips, 2018
Campbell spoke with Alabama offensive line coach Brent Key on Saturday, and he said the ’Bama coaching staff would love to see him wearing the Crimson and Cream.
“I have been building a relationship with Coach Key. I talked to him the first time like a month or two months ago,” Campbell said. “I just stayed in touch with him and then we were just texting today, talking about protections and stuff, then he said to give him a call real quick and it just went down from there.
“He was saying they need more players like me and that I’m a great fit for Alabama and they’re really excited about me and he offered me.”
FSU came out on top while UCF turned in a solid effort. Florida rallied and USF made a huge comback from the bottom of the ladder.
FSU came out on top while UCF turned in a solid effort. Florida rallied and USF made a huge comback from the bottom of the ladder.
FSU came out on top while UCF turned in a solid effort. Florida rallied and USF made a huge comback from the bottom of the ladder.
FSU came out on top while UCF turned in a solid effort. Florida rallied and USF made a huge comback from the bottom of the ladder.
For the second straight season under UCF coach Scott Frost, the Knights finished with a top-three signing class in the American Athletic Conference.
For the second straight season under UCF coach Scott Frost, the Knights finished with a top-three signing class in the American Athletic Conference.
Five-star defensive tackle Marvin Wilson announced his commitment to FSU on Wednesday afternoon.
Five-star defensive tackle Marvin Wilson announced his commitment to FSU on Wednesday afternoon.
Alabama had the top recruiting class on National Signing Day for the seventh straight year.
Alabama had the top recruiting class on National Signing Day for the seventh straight year.
The University of Florida athletic department reversed field Wednesday and the Gators signed top wide receiver prospect James Robinson.
The University of Florida athletic department reversed field Wednesday and the Gators signed top wide receiver prospect James Robinson.
So, surely, then he must have gotten excited?
“I didn’t really say that much. I just said, ‘Thank you,’ ” Campbell said.
It’s the second big offer of the week for Campbell, who was offered by Florida on Thursday. He also has offers from Miami and UCF among his 29, but he’s not in the process of whittling down the list just yet.
“I don’t have any favorite. All my options are still open,” Campbell said. “I’m just focused on my senior season.”
He does, however, still have schools on his wish list and he talked with assistant coach Tony Alford at Ohio State on Saturday, as well.
“I’m looking for Ohio State, Clemson and Florida State still,” Campbell said. “That would be pretty much everybody.”
Chris Hays is the Sentinel’s recruiting coverage coordinator and can be reached at chays@orlandosentinel.com. Follow us on Twitter at @Os_Recruiting and Facebook at OS Recruiting, and on Instagram at os_recruiting.
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