The more you know about Indianapolis Colts rookie wide receiver Parris Campbell, the more you will say he's got “star” written all over him.
The Colts made him the 59th overall selection of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Ohio State University last April. Indy needs a No. 2 receiver to take some of the load off T.Y. Hilton. Campbell could be that guy.
Moreover, Campbell's athleticism brings back memories of Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne – two of the greatest wide receivers in franchise history. He's just that good.
If Parris Campbell is as good as advertised, Colts general manager Chris Ballard has unearthed a gold mine in the draft.
4. Campbell Was a Former Track Star
Speed is Parris Campbell's game. This should come as no surprise: he was a former track star, per the Ohio State Buckeyes' official athletics website.
Outstanding on track, Campbell powered SVSM to the 2013 Ohio State outdoor track and field championship by anchoring victorious 4 x 100- and 4 x 200-meter relays and taking second in the 100
Broke Ohio State record in the 60-meter dash at (the) 2014 indoor state championships (6.85).
Campbell will use his blazing speed to separate himself from cornerbacks trying to deny him possession of the ball. Get this: NFL.com's Lance Zierlein wrote in Campbell's scouting combine profile he has “track speed to scare safeties and corners.” That assessment speaks massive volumes.
On that note, it should be fun to see Campbell play with Hilton, another speedy wideout.
3. Recorded a Time of 4.31 at the NFL Scouting Combine
Parris Campbell is fast – very fast. This is a recording. In fact, he finished with a time of 4.31 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indy last March.
1070TheFan.com's Kevin Bowen says that time was “the fastest of any wide receiver.” If that doesn't wow you, we don't know what will.
Campbell, who's primarily known as a slot receiver, should use his speed in a variety of ways with the Colts, per ESPN's Mike Wells.
The Colts are going to throw as much at Campbell as he can handle. That means lining up not only in the slot but also on the outside and in motion, and there's a chance he could be a kick returner.
That's an accurate assessment. Expect Parris Campbell to be more – much more – than just a slot receiver with the Colts.
2. Became Just the 5th Ohio State Buckeye to Top 1,000 Receiving Yards in a Season
Many people aren't aware Parris Campbell is part of Ohio State Buckeyes football history. He became “only the fifth Buckeye to top 1,000 receiving yards in a season with 1,063,” per the school's official athletics website. Only David Boston (1,435), Terry Glenn (1,411), Cris Carter (1,127), and Michael Jenkins (1,076) had more.
Given Ohio State's long and storied football tradition, that's saying a lot. Pair Campbell up with a quarterback like Andrew Luck, expect the scoreboard to light up.
“Coming in as a receiver and having a guy like Andrew Luck is huge,” Campbell told Wells in May. “He's a prototypical quarterback. He's everything you want.”
1. NFL.com Comparison: Percy Harvin
Percy Harvin never played a single down for the Indianapolis Colts. However, with Parris Campbell on board, it's like they have a Percy Harvin-type wide receiver who can make big plays.
Zierlein compares Campbell to Harvin in his NFL scouting combine profile. The rookie earned an overall grade of 6.11, which means he “should become an instant starter,” per NFL.com.
Former Ohio State Buckeyes head football coach Urban Meyer – who coached both Harvin (with the Florida Gators) and Campbell – agrees with Zierlein's assessment, per 1070 The Fan's Dan Dakich (via the Indianapolis Star's Dana Hunsinger Benbow).
Urban Meyer on new Colts WR Parris Campbell: 'He's a 'Percy Harvin talent' who can do it all https://t.co/1IZWwkWSSp pic.twitter.com/pNpWU6BqiG
— IndyStar (@indystar) April 29, 2019
Meyer dubbed Campbell a “Percy Harvin-type talent” who is “electric” with the ball in his hands, per Benbow.
“Parris, I tell you, I cant' wait for you to get to know him. I can't wait for Indianapolis to get to know him. He's everything you want in a ball player.”
No less than Urban Meyer has spoken. Parris Campbell is a Percy Harvin-type player who will do great things for the Indianapolis Colts. We couldn't agree more.
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