The best quotes from Tennessee transfer OL John Campbell Jr.'s debut press conference

Tennessee football offensive lineman John Campbell Jr. made his media debut Monday afternoon and it wasn’t one to forget. The Miami transfer explained why he picked the Vols after he had initially
“shot down Tennessee”, how Waffle House played a role in his decision and much, much more.

Here’s the highlights from Campbell’s time behind the podium:

What led him to Tennessee after transferring out of Miami

“I’m not gonna lie. I shot down Tennessee. Like what? In my mind, I’m not gonna go to Tennessee. I wanted go somewhere else, but it just felt like the right decision. Like just with the people and the UCF staff, I was familiar with them. Like we got McKenzie Milton here from Orlando, he did a lot for the city, getting that team back, he offensive system that they’re running. So I just really put my trust into those guys to just really come here. And it’s a life-changing decision.”

His previous relationship with Joe Milton III, with both being Florida natives

“Oh yeah, I knew Joe for a long time. High school rivals. We just go on bus tours together. It’s just a great playing with someone you know, just having somebody you know from high school. That’s one thing I didn’t really have at The U. like any of my guys there. Just like having other guys, like having their high school teammates and stuff and like friends that they knew, it was just really well to just play for those guys. It really build chemistry. So I just feel that’s a good thing to play with someone you know. Just probably make someone just wanna go harder, extra mile for that person, you know? Just how they battle.”

How the high school mathups went with his team (Dr. Phillips High School) against Joe Milton III’s team (Olympia High School)

“Oh, I’m undefeated.”

How much more confident he feels from the spring until now

“I ain’t gonna lie, my confidence skyrocketed. Like throughout the spring, I was figuring it out. It’s just schemes, like football is schemes. We kind of run the same plays, but here, you know, probably splits wider, fast tempo. I’ve had tempo like with Coach (Rhett) Lashlee, so I’m used to it. But it’s been smooth though. I, I feel like I’m going the right direction. Like I feel very, very confident. Like I feel like I got my high school confidence (back).”

The difference between Miami and Knoxville 

“Oh yeah, it is cool. I’m used to, I was used to Miami. I’m from Florida, so had fast life and stuff, so that didn’t really bother me. But, Knoxville, it’s a cool place. It’s chill. Like it’s real different, like the people like Miami, you know, you might see somebody, they walk with their head down, walk past you. Here they will have a conversation with you, see how you’re doing. That’s one thing I really like here, where all the coaches and stuff, I just feel like the coaches like just put their trust into to me You know what I’m saying? I just felt like they really support me pushing me and like just giving me free reigns to do what I do to make the plays on the field.”

His dream to play in the NFL and how playing in the SEC can help get him there

“Oh yeah, that’s why big reason I came to SEC to get more notice. I mean, I felt like I had a good year last year, but I felt like I didn’t really have a lot of exposure just playing there at the other place. Just the difference in the fans. You know, this game is sold out, a hundred whatever thousand (fans). You know, Miami is everything. Like we got the Heat, we got the Dolphins, we got all these teams. So like fans, it’s too much, you know what I’m saying? Our game’s not a lot of people there, so I just feel like the SEC is a big stage to play on and something good to get my exposure up there.”

Why he ended up at Tennessee after he initially said he had shot Tennessee down

“Yeah, so like, who really made me going to come to Tennessee was, I give a shout out to Charlie Strong and Trent Williams. Trent Williams, he is the real like guy who really made me come here. Coach Strong, he said he knew the coach over here. And they said he’ll take care of me, it’s a place that I will fit at. But I was just like, I’m sure like Tennessee, like, I’m from Florida, like coming to Tennessee I thought it was just gonna be flat land here, like nothing. I’m in Knoxville, taking my (official visit) I’m like, I dunno, like do I wanna come come out here and see it? But I’m like, man, I just went in and I did it came out here. I’m like dang, it’s a city, like it look cool. You feel me? 

“Like got some food, the food good. They got the Waffle House. That’s a place I like. At The U there wasn’t really no Waffle House, it was like 40 minutes away. So nah, I really like it here.  A lot of food options. Knoxville’s a good place to be at. I ain’t gonna lie. For football, it’s a good place to be at. It’s a good place to have your mind right, focus. You got coaches here in your corner, so Knoxville is a good place.”

How his personality meshes with Javontez Spraggins’ personality

“Yeah, that’s my brother. That’s my boy. Like, we went to train, actually I got the whole O-line, took them out to Houston. We trained with Trent Williams. We gelled together, we got our chemistry up. So yeah, Sprags is my boy. We locked in.”

What he likes about Javontez Spraggins

“I mean, Sprags, we bring that same gorilla energy, you know what I’m saying? We gorillas. We really bringing that. We bringing that energy. He bringing it with me.”

His Waffle House order

“Man, look, I’m gonna get the All-Star Special. Or we going waffle sandwich. You don’t know about that secret menu.”