After nine months of anticipation and three years of intrigue, East Lake receiver George Campbell’s recruitment comes to a conclusion Friday.
It will end without much fanfare. No big stage. No room full of students and players. No cameras flashing. Instead, Campbell, one of the most popular and charismatic players in the 2015 class, will make his announcement in a cramped office at school. He will gaze into a camera and render his decision on ESPN.com’s Recruiting Nation.
This final act comes down to three schools: Florida, FSU and LSU. After that, Campbell can exhale as an exhausting search to find the right school is complete.
“I mean it’s not too bad if you just let it all come to you and not let it stress you out, but yes I am ready for it to be over and to be able to just worry about my team and our plans on getting that ring,” Campbell said.
The process has been full of hype. Since his sophomore season, Campbell has rocketed up the recruiting rankings, thanks to his blend of size (6-foot-3) and speed (4.3 seconds in the 40-yard dash) that he put on display in dazzling performances at combines. Last year, he was ranked as the top overall athlete in his class (he is now ranked 10th by ESPN).
He was a coveted recruit who captivated fans, so much that he gets pictures, footballs and jerseys sent to his house or school from people wanting autographs. Campbell has become such a household name that he is one of two athletes in ESPN’s top 100 for the 2015 class that has his own Wikipedia page.
Still, Campbell did not want a college announcement spectacle that would befit his national appeal.
“George said he would wait until he signs to have something big,” said his uncle, Ahmad Jackson said. “He just wants to the process to be over. He’s exhausted. We’re all exhausted.”
Campbell’s recruitment turned ugly last year after he pledged his allegiance to Michigan in July 2013, then decided to decommit from the school in December. He received plenty of backlash from fans on social media, including some who used racial epitaphs.
“It’s tough, but at the same time I’m not worried about it because I know it won’t effect me on the field or off,” he said.
Even with the decision coming to an end, Jackson said he still gets messages from fans criticizing him for steering Campbell away from Michigan (Campbell made the decision on his own.)
“It will be a great day with his college plans becoming official,” Jackson said. “It’s a thorough process we’ve been through. He knows now there are no do-overs.”