Campbell just latest in a family of All-Stars

Football runs in the Campbell family's blood.

The brothers live states away, but that won't stop them from catching up on Skype to break down game film.

Dinner talk can often shift to breaking down defenses and coming up with offensive plays.

This time of year it's all about the Brea Lions Club O.C. All-Star football game, which will be held at Orange Coast College on Friday night, and once again the Campbells have a family member in the game.

Dick Campbell coached at Garden Grove in the 1970s and went on to coach at Fullerton College. Cox3 announcer Bill Cunerty said Campbell was known as "The Mad Scientist" back in the day because of his inventive schemes. He coached the North in 1976.

Campbell's son, Gregg, a standout at Orange, played for the North in 1990. Now, Gregg's son, Bryce, a three-year lettermen at tight end/linebacker for Edison, will become the third generation of the Campbell clan to compete in the O.C. All-Star game when he suits up for the South.

Bryce has a chance to do something his dad and grandpa were never able to accomplish.

"It's awesome," Dick said. "Now it's up to Bryce to win it. We lost both times."

Bryce wasn't picked on the original roster for the South, but he got in after a few players pulled out because of injuries. South coach Rick Gibson said Bryce has been one of the hardest workers during the practices.

"It was definitely something that was always a goal," Bryce said. "I mean, my dad played in it and my grandpa was in it and I thought it would be sweet to do that third generation type of thing. I got a phone call last week and they asked me to be in the game and I said, 'Hell yeah.'"

Oh yeah, Bryce's younger brother, Peter, 11, who plays flag football and Pop Warner, will be the ball boy for the South.

Bryce, a 6-1, 215-pounder, didn't have the size advantages his dad, a 6-5, 230-pounder, had, but he made up for that with his work ethic.

"He's the kind of kid that will always win the coach's award," Dick said. "He's got good talent, not great size, but good talent and he'll work harder than anybody on the field or in the weight room. That's why he will always get the coach's award."

So where does that work ethic come from?

"My grandpa says I worked way harder than my dad," Bryce said. "My dad pushed me a lot when I was younger. As I grew up, my dad wasn't on my back. I just wanted to take charge of my life, push through everything and just work hard in everything I do."

Dad agrees with grandpa.

"He's always been the hardest worker in everything he does especially when it comes to sports and academics," Gregg said. "He's basically a grinder is how I describe him. He doesn't fear work. He'll do whatever you ask. I got to coach him as a freshman and even (Edison) coach (Dave) White will tell you he'll be the team leader and captain."

Dick and Gregg have been getting out to as many All-Star practices as they can, but Gregg has also been busy as the coach of Edison's freshmen team. Bryce has been helping out before he heads out to Northern Arizona where he plans to walk-on and play.

Coaching football is the family business. Gregg's brother Garrett, who played quarterback at Esperanza, coaches at Illinois College and his other brother, Gavin, who played at Fullerton College and Kentucky State, spent time coaching at Old Dominion.

"It's not just my grandpa and my dad," Bryce said. "I got uncles coaching in different parts of the country. It's good experience. I learned a lot. It's good for me because I have a lot of access into this. I want to coach in the future and that kind of thing. Football is in the blood, I guess.

Contact the writer: carias@ocregister.com