"Some folks tell me that I have a sixth sense," says top QB prospect Jason Campbell of Taylorsville (Miss.) High School, "because I'll do crazy things sometimes, like spinning out of the pocket and finding folks downfield.
| |  | | Jason Campbell is rated by Tom Lemming as the nation's No. 11 prospect. |
"Picking out my second and third receivers, just knowing where they are going to be, knowing their speed and the stuff that we have between each other, through practice and work ethic -- so I know where they are going to be, and they know where I'm going to throw the ball. So, I guess it is kind of a special sense to have."
"You're talking about something there that is certainly not coachable," says Campbell's coach, Shannon White. "We've had a couple plays this year and certainly a few big plays last year where the play that was called didn't work out, and another receiver broke off his route and it just so happened that Jason found him. It is kind of an odd thing cause you just don't teach that."
"Jason started off in the seventh grade as a quarterback, and it seemed like he just had a knack for it. It was just like an everyday thing for him," says Larry Campbell, Jason's father.
While people marvel at his sixth sense, Jason remains grateful. That extra talent allows Taylorsville to do something with their offense that most schools can't -- run audibles. "Coach gave me the privilege to change the plays on offense," he says, "and I feel good about it. It is kind of funny sometimes, because you'll go to the line and see DBs walk up in your face. Then you'll change a play and they'll start to back off."
"Sometimes he knows more than the coach knows," says teammate Ben Ford. "He really knows what plays to run in certain situations. He has a real good vision of the field, he is really mobile, he's got a good arm; he just thinks real well on the field."
Last year Jason threw for more than 2,700 yards and completed 174 of 291 passes. This year he is on pace to top those numbers. It is obvious that Jason has a abundance of God-given talent, but don't think he relies on that natural ability alone.
"You never see him take a break in whatever we are doing," says White. "A lot of coaches have guys that are that way -- they try to find easy ways out of doing things because they are so talented. Jason never tries to find an easy way out of anything we are doing."
"I do work hard," says Jason. "Running, in the weight room, and throwing the football. I try to get my teammates involved in the game. I just try to be the best I can be on Friday night."
With a population of only 1,500 in Taylorsville and not one traffic light, high school football is the main event in town each fall. The community provides huge support for the team, but in return they expect nothing but the best.
"On a normal day of practice we have people come by and watch practice," says White. " They are constantly in touch with us; around the school they have signs up and downtown there are signs up at places of business. Our crowd is special; we have a lot of people here. Sports here are very important, and we have just a super community here, and their support is just tremendous."
"Growing up in a small town to me is good," says Jason. "Because you have so many kids at one school you get to showcase your talents around the kids you grew up with. You know each other better, because you see each other all the time. I think it is kind of better growing up in a small town because you have a good solid base to come from."
One of Jason's high school roles is to lead the Tartars to their fourth straight championship in the '90s. Like one of his biggest fans will tell you, he didn't do it alone. "His teammates know he isn't a selfish player," says Larry Campbell. "He is always trying to get the job done, but he isn't trying to do it by himself. Getting them involved has been one the qualities that his teammates enjoy about him."
Jason is not just a strong football player, he is a model student and citizen as well. "We have several leaders, and he is one of them," says White. "He is not very vocal. We have vocal types and other types, and he leads by example. I think that is the best kind of way, because you have consistency there, and he is a very consistent person. Our elementary school is involved with our pep rallies, and he does a good job being around smaller kids. He does a real good job communicating with them."
"I really love the athletic side of it with his abilities, but we have really stressed the academic part of his life and he knows that," says Larry Campbell. "He worked towards that himself. I mean, he wants to achieve too, and I don't think we'll have any problems. Right know, he is sitting with a 3.0 GPA. He has been on the honor roll since the first grade."
"You've got to have brains to play football and he definitely has them," says teammate Ford. "If he wasn't smart enough to read defenses, he would be just a regular old high school quarterback."
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