'Student of the game': Jaguars' Tyson Campbell is ascending as one of NFL's best corners

Jacksonville Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke was roaming the sidelines during the first day of organized team activities while wearing a white shirt with the words “Think Takeaways” printed in teal lettering on the front of it.

The shirt, often worn by Jacksonville’s players and staffers, is inspired by senior defensive assistant Bob Sutton who has preached the importance of takeaways in effective defenses to the team.

As Baalke made his rounds, he locked eyes with cornerback Tyson Campbell who motioned to Baalke as he beat on his chest. Baalke motioned back, returning the gesture as the third-year defensive back finished a drill.

It’s just a shirt on the surface, but subtly, it might be an indicator of Campbell’s third season in the NFL as he ascends to higher heights.

More stories from our staff:

'The market is what the market is': Jaguars' Travis Etienne on NFL running backs

Jaguars' gift to fans: Miller Electric Center offering comfortable views of training camp

'Last man standing': Jaguars' Rayshawn Jenkins wants to build on impressive 2022 campaign

Campbell’s already growing into leadership role for Jacksonville

Campbell spent the offseason transitioning to a leadership role for the Jaguars, who added three players to their secondary via the draft.

“We know he's good football player and he's just going to get better,” head coach Doug Pederson said about Campbell this summer. “He's one of the guys that in my mind, I want to begin to kind of get that leadership out of him.

“He's one of those young up and coming guys that I want to put more on his plate as a leader and just let him do his thing because everybody respects him in the locker room.”

Only in his third season, he’s already able to pass on information and be a resource for teammates who need the extra help.

Not because he was asked to do so, but because that’s just how he is, instinctively.

“For a guy that has played as many snaps as he's played his young career, he has experience of play time,” defensive backs coach Deshea Townsend said of Campbell’s leadership. “He's also the type of guy that understands that it takes everybody for us to be a complete group. For those young guys to lean upon him and to listen, that’s big.”

Campbell was the first pick of the second round in the 2021 NFL draft. He was a standout at the University of Georgia and ranked as the No. 2 corner in the nation when he helped American Heritage reel off a 28-game unbeaten streak during his final two seasons of high school.

But despite his past accolades and achievements, he fully grasps that everyone isn’t given the same opportunities as him and wants to do his part to ensure other players are helped along in their development.

“Everybody's not in the same position. Some guys have a spot on the team, some guys are trying to make a spot,” Campbell told the Times-Union during the offseason.

“My job is to help guys learn and help guys get used to the NFL way of things and learn how to be a pro. Something I learned how to do. It'd be selfish for me not to pass that along.”

‘Top five potential’: Campbell gets high praise from defensive backfield mate

Darious Williams was a member of the Los Angeles Rams’ Super Bowl team in 2022 and spent time playing alongside former Jaguars’ corner Jalen Ramsey during their time in L.A.

So he knows what it looks like to be one of the highest performers at the defensive back position and he thinks he sees those traits in Campbell already.

“Man, I see a potential to really be a top five corner,” Williams said when asked about Campbell. “I mean, probably by the year his contract is up. He might be one of the best, if not the best, or competing for the best. But I mean, he's got potential. There's no limit to it.”

Next Gen Stats ranked Campbell as the fourth best coverage corner in the NFL last season. He defended 15 passes and came away with three interceptions. It was a jump from his first season where he recorded 10 pass deflections and intercepted two passes.

And those stats are just scratching the surface for how good he could be this season.

“You know, he's got skills out the world. He's a real student of the game,” Williams said. “He loves getting better and I think those are the things that help you become one of the best.”

Through the early days of training camp, Campbell has already made an impression on the coaching staff. When asked about players who’ve stood out in the first week, Campbell was the player that came to mind for Pederson.

“I just love the way he came back and really has embraced, I think, him being in that conversation of one of the top corners in the league,” Pederson said on Saturday.

Iron sharpens iron: Camp battles with Ridley help hone Campbell’s skills, prepare him for matchups this season

The start of training camp has called attention to a matchup that’ll be appointment viewing for the next few weeks: Calvin Ridley lined up across from Campbell.

The very first rep saw heightened intensity from both parties — even without a pass coming on their side of the field.

Though the two players have jousted throughout the offseason, there’s a different feel to training camp battles. It’s almost a kill-or-be-killed situation when you’re the top option on your respective side of the ball in camp.

Especially when you’re viewed as an ascending talent in the case of Campbell, versus a player determined to prove he’s still who he once was in Ridley. The matchup between the two will greatly help both players as they try to get the better of their opponent on a daily basis.

“When you go against a good one, it helps you out and Calvin's a good one,” defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell said when asked about the camp matchup. “He's one of the ones, so it's all about the competition.”

For Campbell, the battles with Ridley will give him a taste of the caliber receiver he’ll see throughout the season.

Matchups against Stefon Diggs, Odell Beckham, Amari Cooper, Michael Thomas, Ja’Marr Chase and more await him during the regular season.

But it’s a task that he’s fully embracing as the top cornerback in Jacksonville.

“You gain more confidence and you kind of accept your role and kind of see how your team views you,” Campbell said.

“It's an honor my team uses me that way to guard a lot of the best receivers in the league. It’s something I take very seriously, and I don't take for granted.”

Juston Lewis is a sports reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on Twitter at @JustonLewis_.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars: Tyson Campbell battles with Calvin Ridley make both better