Page 2 - Florida Sentinel 5-1-20

Feature
Bay Area Player Drafted By New York Jets
BY GWEN HAYES Sentinel Editor
It was a little anxiety for a while for George Camp- bell. It had gotten to be the third and final draft of the National Football League and the 23-year-old had not re- ceived a call from any of the 32 teams. “It’s a lot of anxiety, waiting for the possibility that you’ll hear your name called,” he said.
Campbell had been heavily courted by several of the NFL teams, but as the draft closed Saturday night, he was still waiting.
Not long afterwards, how- ever, the East Lake High School graduate (2015) learned from his agent, Joshua Grady, that the New York Jets had picked him up as an undrafted free
GEORGE CAMPBELL
agent.
After spending time with
family and friends on Sunday, Campbell knows what’s next for him to be prepared to make the team’s roster. “Ba- sically, getting ready for the season and continuing to
workout in Tampa and be safe. When the time comes and we can get with other players, I plan to be ready,” he said. “I’m looking forward to this unique and different experience.”
After high school, Camp- bell attended Florida State University, his heart’s desire. He made the team, but in- juries hampered his ability perform to potential. He graduated from FSU in 2018 (December) with a degree in Social Studies.
Campbell had a year of eligibility left after being red- shirted his sophomore year, and healing from injuries. He took his talents to West Vir- ginia University (Morgan- town, WV) as a wide receiver, and began studying towards a Master’s degree in Communi- cations. He was one of 3
George Campbell, a free agent draft by the New York Jets, is shown with his mother, Joye Jackson at his graduation from Florida State University, December 2018.
Mountaineers selected in the 2020 Draft.
He ended the year at WVU with the 4th most catches (19) on the team, and 469 yards receiving. Seven of the 19 catches were for touch- downs. He’s first on the WVU team, and 6th in the Big 12 Conference.
Campbell is the 5th of his players that Coach Bob Hudson of East Lake has seen go to the NFL. “They’re all like sons to me; I just love them to death,” he said in a phone interview.
Coach Hudson had Campbell under his wings for 4 years.
Coach Britt Taylor has been Campbell’s basketball coach since 7th grade. “He was on the traveling basketball
GEORGE CAMPBELL And JAMESHA COBB
team as a youth, and I coached him throughout high school,” the Pinellas County Coach of the Year said. “George is a special person and we’re all very excited for him.” Coach Taylor also coached Campbell in track and field.
Campbell is looking for- ward to the opportunity to wear the green and white in MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. He’ll have the support of so many family members and friends: his mother, Joye Jackson; fa- ther, George Campbell; younger brothers, Gernard Campbell and Gage Nix; grandparents, George Campbell, Billy Jackson and Pansy Jackson; and longtime girlfriend, Jame- sha Cobb and her family.
Residents Can Apply For Recovery Funds Online
Hillsborough County is now accepting online applications for Rapid Response Recovery Program (R3) funds to assist in paying util- ity bills, rent, and even mortgage payments. Employees have been ac- cepting applications by phone.
But as a result of the tremendous demand, an addition of an online application form will now give residents another option to apply for R3 funding.
Hillsborough County has secured $256 million in funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. An im- mediate $15 million was allocated to the Social Services Department to bolster their efforts and programs to serve all Hillsborough residents impacted by the devastating effects of COVID-19.
The funds can be used to pay past-due utility bills (water and elec- tric) and/or lease/mortgage payment in the name of the person apply- ing for assistance.
Due to funding constraints, the County will accept a maximum of 3,000 online applications. The Call Center is open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Anyone living in Hillsborough County whose income has been im- pacted by the COVID-19 virus can apply for relief funds by calling the Rapid Response Assistance Call Center at (813) 274-6710 or by visit- ing www.HCFLGov.net/R3.
PAGE 2-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2020