Gil Brandt labels Tyson Campbell as non-first rounder slated to make immediate impact

Hall of Fame NFL executive Gil Brandt tabbed Tyson Campbell as one of his 11 non-first-round rookies that could make an immediate impact in the 2021 season.

Campbell, a former five-star defensive back recruit out of Florida, played three seasons at Georgia. Coached by former NFL All-Pro Patrick Surtain Sr. and a high school friend of Patrick Surtain II, he arrived in Athens with high expectations — and delivered almost immediately. He started at cornerback in 11 of the 14 games. He played as a freshman but experienced a minor decrease in playing time his sophomore season. The downtick in playing time, both at the end of his freshman year and his sophomore year, can be chalked up to injuries, as Campbell missed nearly six games in 2019 due to turf toe.

In 2020, however, he was back to full strength, and he certainly looked the part. He finished with 29 tackles and was a versatile member of the Bulldogs’ secondary.

This year, he opted to declare for the 2021 NFL Draft rather than returning to Georgia for his senior season, and was selected in the second round — 33rd overall — by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Draft profiles had very few downsides to selecting Campbell, with the two main considerations being his injury history and the fact he only had one collegiate interception. But Campbell continued to turn heads in the NFL Combine, running a blazing 4.34 40-yard dash.

“Whether or not C.J. Henderson is traded, the Jaguars have the flexibility to potentially move on from the 2020 first-round pick, in part, because Campbell has showcased elite speed while competing with Tre Herndon at nickel corner,” Brandt wrote. “Campbell also has the versatility to fill a safety role, as well, making him a valuable asset when it comes to slowing tight ends in the slot.”

Thanks to Campbell’s athleticism and versatility, Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer expressed a desire to use Campbell as a multi-faceted defender his rookie season.

“I love the guy,” Meyer said of Campbell. “We’re going to dual teach him out of the gate at corner and nickel.”

Through one preseason game, Campbell has yet to blossom into the second-round pick the Jaguars have hoped, but he still has two more showcases before the regular season rolls around. Campbell struggled in coverage in the Jaguars’ first preseason game against the Browns. When a pass was heaved deep into the endzone to Davion Davis, Davis was able to extend over the outstretched arms of Campbell to reel in the touchdown.