Double vision

With 6-foot-4, 220-odd pound frames, speed and athleticism, Marlboro County’s Tariq and Tyrell Edwards look as if they were born to play football.
A more accurate statement, though, is they were bred for it.

From the ages of 3, the Bulldogs’ identical duo has been groomed to become not only talented football players at the high school level, but at any level.
“It was kind of tough growing up the way we did,” Tyrell said. “Our dad would get us up early in the morning and we’d run all over the place. We were always doing housework and chores. That’s how he taught us discipline.”

It was also how Bo Campbell began to train his sons for what was to come.

“Every time they’d do something wrong, I’d have them do pushups, catch bricks, run up and down the bleachers or drag a big mason brick by a rope,” Campbell said. “That was what their discipline was. I tried to do things that would help strengthen their bodies and condition them as well.”

All the years of work seem to have paid off. Over the summer, both Edwards verbally committed to Virginia Tech, the same school that Campbell played for.

“We’ve been going there since we were real little, so it’s kind of always been on our minds,” Tariq said. “We tried to bring some of that intensity we saw there to Marlboro County.
“It’s been a dream of ours and I know our dad was real happy when we told him.”

A cut above the rest
It was apparent to Campbell that Tariq and Tyrell were going to be good players from a very young age.
The twins played small fry football (9 and 10 year olds) in Cheraw since they were 6. After moving to Marlboro County when they were about 9, they caught the eye of Marlboro coach Dean Boyd.

“They were always the best players at whatever level they were at,” Boyd said. “You knew they were going to be good. It was just a matter of when everything came together.”

Developing size and speed were the main things the Edwards had to work on once they got to high school, Boyd said.

“We really started lifting weights by ourselves then and just working on things to make us stronger,” Tariq said. “We went to speed camps and a lot of college summer camps to try to improve on technique and quickness.”

Both Edwards play offense and defense. Tariq is a defensive end and tight end while Tyrell plays linebacker, tight end and some quarterback.

Tariq had 81 tackles and four sacks as a linebacker last season. Tyrell had 71 tackles and caught five passes last season. Tariq leads the Bulldogs this season with 27 tackles.

“I think their knowledge of the game has really grown in the years I’ve known them,” Boyd said. “They always seem to have a nose for being around the football and making big plays, causing turnovers, things like that.”

From father to sons
Campbell began his football career in 1980 at the age of 10 in Brooklyn, N.Y. A strong senior year in high school and the help of a coach landed Campbell a scholarship at Virginia Tech, where he played as a defensive back and return specialist from 1988-91.

Campbell caught 68 passes for 1,145 yards and nine touchdowns while returning 67 punts for 587 yards for the Hokies. Those numbers were impressive enough to earn a shot with the Miami Dolphins after he graduated.
But family issues kept him from giving his all, Campbell said.

“My grandmother was on her death bed at the time, and I was gone a lot,” he said. “My dealings with the Dolphins and trying to get my release after she died sort of soured me to them, and I went to play in the Canadian Football League for a while.
“But by that time, Tariq and Tyrell were about 3 and I decided I really wanted to be around my family more. So that was the end of my professional career.”
Campbell, who described himself as a latchkey kid at times, wanted to be around for his sons more than his parents were there for him.

And his sons picked up his love of the game.
“When they’re that young, they always want to be like dad,” Campbell said. “So they were always throwing the football around and asking to play football.”

“I’ve always loved playing football, even from the beginning,” Tariq said. “I’ve broken my arm a few times, but I still enjoy it.”

The siblings have always played together, but that doesn’t mean they don’t try to outdo each other.

“It’s very competitive,” Tyrell said. “... If (Tariq) is in the house lifting weights, I’m outside running a mile. It’s always been like that.
“I expect it to last through college, and if we make it to the pros and wind up on different teams, it could be very interesting.”