96 Tackles as a Junior: Tyson Callum is 904’s Most Underrated LB | Eagles View Academy

In this episode we talk about his spectacular Junior season, playing at a Small Private School, playing with violence ,being recruited at a Small Private School and much more…

0:00 - Introduction

0:31 - Impressive Junior Year Stats

0:56 - Violent Mentality

1:55 - Defensive Position

2:13 - Memorable hit from last year

2:50 - Toughest back he's had to tackle

3:34 - Big Interception

4:56 - First Offer

5:22 - HBCU Offer

6:09 - Position in College

6:59 - Dream School

7:29 - College Projection

8:03 - Defensive Philosophy

8:33 - Getting off blocks

9:15 - Blitzing style

9:33 - Scouting Opponent

10:17 - What people get wrong about Eagle's View

11:30 - 904 LB Mindset

12:27 - Traveling outside of Duval

14:49 - HS Rivalry

15:58 - Senior Year Goals

18:59 - College LB he's modeling his game after

19:53 - Rapid Fire

20:50 - Message to College Coaches

21:55 - DOWNLOAD, RATE, & REVIEW

Twitter: @behindTW904

Transcript

Introduction

Coach Moss 0:00

96 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, and five sacks as a junior. Six foot two, 185 pounds from Eagles View Academy in the heart of Jacksonville, Florida. He's everywhere. Mike, will blitz, coverage. He holds offers from FCS all the way down to Juco. Everybody wants a piece of the 904. He's not waiting for his senior Year to produce. He already is. Eagles View Academy linebacker, class of 2027, Tyson Callum. Welcome to Behind the Whistle 904.

Tyson 0:28

Yes, sir. Thank you, Coach Moss, for having me.

Coach Moss 0:30

No problem.

Impressive Junior Year Stats

Coach Moss 0:31

Thank you for coming on. So speaking on those stats, I just was talking about 96 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, and five sacks. Which of those stats are you most proud of and why?

Tyson 0:41

Shoot, honestly, I would say my tackles, just because it showed it showed me like how aggressive I was being and how violent I was being, even with me having an injury during midseason.

Coach Moss 0:55

Yes,

Violent Mentality

Coach Moss 0:56

sir. And like when I watched your film, like the thing that stood out to me is how much violence you play at. Like, what's your mentality that allows you to play that that violent where you're just ready to take somebody's head off?

Tyson 1:10

Shoot. Honestly, it just what I've been through and where I'm trying to go, like the places I'm trying to put myself in. Um try to I got goals, like, you know, I'm trying to retire my mom and stuff. So it's just some places and things I want to see myself. And I just got that like, man, I'm I'm gonna make you not want to play football type of mentality when I hit you. So and yeah, I just take everything that I've been wanting to do and all my goals and stuff, all the anger, you know what I'm saying? Anger, anger. That that's what fuels me to do that.

Coach Moss 1:46

Yeah, it's a great avenue to release in a good way. Well good for you, not for the person you tackle.

Tyson 1:53

Yeah, nah, most definitely.

Defensive Position

Coach Moss 1:55

So where do you line up most of at eagle's view? Are you like Mike, Will, or like where are you lining up and what's your job?

Tyson 2:02

I would definitely say Mike. You know, just controlling the defense, making sure everybody knows what we're running, calls, call signals, you know what I'm saying? Definitely Mike.

Coach Moss 2:12

Yes,

Memorable hit from last year

Coach Moss 2:13

sir. So we talked about how violent you played. Can you give me what one hit from last year where the whole sideline just went crazy?

Tyson 2:21

Okay, so this was Rocky Bayou, Rocky Bayou game. I forgot what week it was, but it was midseason. I definitely know that for sure. And I hit I hit their quarterback so hard. It was like the last play of the game, just sent him flying like five, ten yards back. I hit him so hard. Yeah, that's where everybody was like, okay. Like you feel me, he definitely is that.

Coach Moss 2:49

Yes,

Toughest back he's had to tackle

Coach Moss 2:50

sir. So who's the who's probably the toughest back that you had to bring down in y'all in your games from this year?

Tyson 2:58

Ooh, okay. Um Mount Door, his name is Um, I think Lewis Lewis something. Uh, but he played for Mount Door. He's actually like that QB running back type thing, it's like a Wildcat QB scheme. Uh but he was he was a tough opponent to bring down. He's he very strong, know what he's doing, high IQ. I would say him.

Coach Moss 3:23

Is he a pretty big back?

Tyson 3:26

Yes, sir, he is. Oh yeah. But also he on the leaner side, so oh yeah, that makes sense.

Coach Moss 3:33

So

Big Interception

Coach Moss 3:34

I saw you had one pick. Um, can you walk me through how that happened and um how did it feel to get an interception?

Tyson 3:41

Yes, sir. Well, uh, first off, it felt amazing. I would definitely say that. I got up, I was like, man, I'm done. You feel me? Like, I got up, hey, man. I was like, just roll up D1, you feel me? It felt good, man. Um so how it happened was I was just, I was um, we was just doing normal plays. I think we was in a base defense setting as well. And I just stayed, I stayed playing through the play all the way, and I stayed with my person, the running back, he had like they had the guards and tackles, they had flooded out um into like this blocking scheme, but it was kind of weird because the it was just me and the running back and this one lineman, and I was fighting with the lineman, and I saw the running back stop, so I'm like, oh yeah, he's definitely finna get the ball. And I just tried to get there as quick as possible, and I saw the ball jump. Like, I was like, I saw the QB jump, and when he threw the ball, my head, my IQ was like, okay, nah, like this boss not gonna be able to, he's not gonna be able to make this catch.

Coach Moss 4:49

Yeah.

Tyson 4:49

So I was like, shoot, I had the confidence to go grab that bit. Just wanted to go grab it.

Coach Moss 4:55

Yes, sir.

First Offer

Coach Moss 4:56

So I see you got offers from schools like El Camino, Muskingum and Gum, Erskine, Long Island, Bethune. What school offered you first? And how did that feel? How did that moment feel that now like all the work I've been putting in is finally paying off?

Tyson 5:10

Yes, sir. I would say Bethune definitely did offer me first. Um, and it was just like kind of a relief, but also it was just like, man, this is only the beginning, like I gotta keep working.

HBCU Offer

Coach Moss 5:22

Yeah. So speaking of Bethune, like it's a HBCU, like that means something to like our people. So what did that mean to get a that your first offer came from an HBCU?

Tyson 5:33

Oh yes, sir, it was definitely that means something to me as well. Uh, it's big, definitely big, because you know, like I feel like growing up, especially how I grew up, kind of in like a diverse mixed area, like me going out and stuff, like that culture is real. You know, being at a black university is real, a historic black university is real, you know what I'm saying? Like the things that they do is different than other universities and like just the culture and stuff. So I will say that's big for me too.

Coach Moss 6:08

So um

Position in College

Coach Moss 6:09

my next question is like so to be a Mike linebacker, 185 pounds, that's kind of light as far as being in college. Are the this the scouts that you're talking to, the coach you're talking to, are they do they want you to gain weight or do they see you more as an outside linebacker at the next level?

Tyson 6:24

Yes, sir. They want me to gain weight, and some do see me playing outside. Like, um the Bethune, for instance, like I will most likely gonna be playing outside.

Coach Moss 6:39

Okay.

Tyson 6:39

Um so I would say a lot of colleges definitely want me to get bigger just because of the fact that I am an athlete. So if I do go offensive route, the positions I play on offense tight end, I would need to be bigger. So I would definitely say a lot of colleges are looking for me to get bigger. Most definitely.

Dream School

Coach Moss 6:59

Yes, sir. So just tell me so what your dream school is. Like, forget the offers, like growing up, what what school that that meant a lot to you that you was like, man, I hope I play there when I get when I grow up.

Tyson 7:11

Shoo, honestly, uh I got three schools really.

Coach Moss 7:16

Uh-huh.

Tyson 7:17

It's really uh Georgia, Georgia, Florida, alright, four. Georgia, Florida, Oklahoma, and FSU.

Coach Moss 7:28

Okay.

College Projection

Coach Moss 7:29

So um, as far as you, like, and as far as your development, like, where do you kind of what level do you kind of see yourself playing at at the next level?

Tyson 7:40

I see me playing at the high level, honestly. Like, I developed myself, you know, like I've gone through extreme development, and I've seen that tremendously. Like, every time I get on the field and I'll be like, man, like, I was just doing this crapping drills and stuff, like, this is why I'm doing it, type thing. So I have got developed.

Defensive Philosophy

Coach Moss 8:03

So, um, just going into you as playing linebacker, like, I I know most linebackers read run first. Is y'all defense that way, or or are are y'all first really trying to make sure no passes will get over your head and keep everything?

Tyson 8:17

Yes, sir. It is a run first defense, but some formations it's like just focus on pass, you know, you know what I'm saying?

Coach Moss 8:27

Because the tendencies, yeah, that makes sense.

Tyson 8:29

Yes, sir. Certain situations, certain exactly. Yes, sir.

Coach Moss 8:32

Okay,

Getting off blocks

Coach Moss 8:33

so you you're 185 pounds. Like, what do you do like if you got an offensive lineman running full speed at you trying to get to the next level? Like, how do you get off that block? Are you using your speed or you got some type of a move that you kind of like to use?

Tyson 8:47

I'm using my speed. I'm being violent. I'm just like I'm just letting them have it. Honestly, I wouldn't say it's not even no special move that I just use. I just continue to play ball. Like, you know what I'm saying? I don't finish until the whistle is blown, you know? Like I just continue, that's how I got my interception. I just continue to play through the play through the play, you know what I'm saying? Play through the to the whistle blown.

Coach Moss 9:14

So

Blitzing style

Coach Moss 9:15

as far as blitzing, are you more of a disguise or are you just going now on the snap? You you're not you're not hiding nothing, you just going.

Tyson 9:23

I'm more of a disguise. I like, yeah, I like the disguise that I'm blitzing.

Coach Moss 9:28

And time it up right at the snap, so they don't see you coming. Yes, sir.

Tyson 9:31

Right, exactly.

Coach Moss 9:32

So

Scouting Opponent

Coach Moss 9:33

as far as film, like as far as Monday or or the weekend after y'all play, when you're scouting your opponent, what's some things that you kind of look for as far as tendencies?

Tyson 9:43

Well, shoo, I look for which side they like to run the ball on more. I like to see, is their QB like a uh like uh under pressure type person? Like, do he how do he react under pressure? How is how is their how is their offense moving? Like is their a disciplined team or they uh team that's like Lolley gagging on the field? Do they fight each other? You know, I look for the small things, but the things that actually matter type deal.

What people get wrong about Eagle's View

Coach Moss 10:17

Yeah, that makes that makes perfect sense. So Eaglesview is a is a is a small private school. A lot of people that's not from Jacksonville may not know about it. So what do people get wrong about their opinion of Eagles View?

Tyson 10:32

Man, okay, definitely. I like that question. Man, a lot of people get Eagles View wrong just as far as like it's a horrible school just because how small it is. I would definitely say that sometimes, sometimes you be like, okay, at a bigger school, you might benefit from this, you know what I'm saying? Or, you know what I'm saying, like it might be a benefit going to a bigger school sometimes, but like a lot of people just think Eagles View is just not a good school in general, and I I think opposite, you know what I'm saying? I think it's a good school.

Coach Moss 11:12

Exactly.

Tyson 11:13

Good school with good sports.

Coach Moss 11:15

Yep, and a lot of people probably think, oh, Eagles View, man, that's a small school. Ain't no college coaches coming there, but you've proven in wrong that you can you can get offers and you can't make it to the next level from Eagles View. You don't have to be at a big time school.

Tyson 11:27

Yes, sir, that is true.

Coach Moss 11:29

So

904 LB Mindset

Coach Moss 11:30

my next, as we transition, my next question is gonna be so Jacksonville, Duval is kind of known for linebacker sending linebackers to the next level. Like, in your opinion, what makes what makes a 904 linebacker different? Is it the speed, because they play with violence, the football IQ, like in your opinion, what kind of separates y'all from other people across the country?

Tyson 11:52

I say it's the speed and violence. Really the violence, I say. Really just like the relentlessness we play with, like, you get that from if you you go look at like just every team, like all the powerhouse teams that they're talking about, you know, like you go look at them, it's just straight violence, you know what I'm saying? Like, it's straight dominant football. So I would say that's like that's something that North Florida football in general brings, not only just with linebackers.

Coach Moss 12:26

Yes, sir.

Traveling outside of Duval

Coach Moss 12:27

So being at Eagle's View, y'all kinda y'all travel outside of Duval to play games. So when y'all go to like away in other road environments, do they kind of underestimate y'all until like that first big play or that first big hit that you have, then they'd be like, oh, this team came to play?

Tyson 12:42

Yes, sir, most definitely. I ain't gonna lie. A lot of teams do underestimate us. Um again, just for us being a smaller school, um, second off us like not being probably the well-funded school as well.

Coach Moss 12:57

Yeah.

Tyson 12:58

You know, when it when you see us pull up in our little grey bus, you think like, okay, this is just some any type of school, whatever. Um, but we don't let it get to us. I will say, definitely, like going when we play like richer schools, um, it definitely shows like, okay, hey, they want to be the big dog, you know what I'm saying? Like, they want to shine on us and look down upon us, you know what I'm saying?

Coach Moss 13:26

Yeah, makes makes sense. So, can you tell me a little bit about like from your years at Eagle's view, how has your coaches like developed you and got you better to where now college coaches are are starting to take a look at you?

Tyson 13:40

Yes, sir, most definitely. I would just say like more so development on the character side of things, like just making sure I'm growing as a human being and as a man.

Coach Moss 13:55

Yeah.

Tyson 13:56

Um, and you know, honestly doing doing small things like giving me the opportunity, to ball out and stuff, like that's everything right there. You feel me? I can't really speak on the development part because I really do my training and stuff on my own. That's really kind of productive, if you get what I'm saying. Yeah. So uh, yeah, I as far as character-wise, they're good. They have, you know, helped me with that.

Coach Moss 14:29

Yeah, and I think that's pretty big because as you know, it's a lot of talent in Jacksonville, but if you have big character concerns, like especially now with NIL, and they a team's not gonna put all that money into you if you're not if you're not handling your business off the field as well as on the field.

Tyson 14:46

Right, yes, sir, correct.

Coach Moss 14:48

So,

HS Rivalry

Coach Moss 14:49

um, it do y'all have a who's y'all rival? If so, like how like what's the atmosphere as far as when y'all play that team?

Tyson 14:56

Yes, sir. Old plank, uh man, you can feel it the whole week. I ain't gonna lie. Old plank is our rival. You can feel it. It's like our old coach actually went to old plank.

Coach Moss 15:09

Oh wow.

Tyson 15:10

Um not Coach Ken, not Coach Ken, but uh the coach before Coach RJ and Coach Ken. And Coach King, I don't I don't want y'all thinking, I don't want nobody thinking, hey, I'm just like saying our coach is trading on us, but um yeah, man, you can definitely feel it, bro. I that's all I can say. Like it's really is a rival, you know, between the two small private academies. Yeah.

Coach Moss 15:36

So how did that game go last year? Did y'all end up coming out on top?

Tyson 15:40

No, sir, we didn't come out on top. It was really like kind of unfortunate, just because like I said, it was a really a game, like, hey, like we really wanted to win, but also it just showed us that like that loss showed us what we needed to work on and why we was holding ourselves back, you know what I'm saying?

Senior Year Goals

Coach Moss 15:58

Yeah, that makes that makes sense. So can you tell can you tell me a little bit about your goals for your senior year, not just not just personally, but as far as team, as well as maybe some a couple of off off the field goals you have for yourself?

Tyson 16:13

Yes, sir. Um well just start with some academic goals, like I want to continue to bring my GPA up. I know that's a thing that's kind of been hindering me from getting a lot of more offers and a lot of more um exposure.

Coach Moss 16:30

Yeah.

Tyson 16:31

Um, so I definitely want to bring that up. That's something uh strong goal of mine. I want to just continue to get developed and you know, stay on the right track because like I want to be a politician and stuff when I'm older, so like I want to be able to make sure that I can get to my goals, complete my goals, and do what I need to do in the future, you know what I'm saying, for my family.

Coach Moss 16:57

Yes, sir. So myself. Now, what about like as far as on the field? What's some individual goals you have for yourself and then goals you have for the team?

Tyson 17:06

Yes, sir. Okay, most definitely on the field. I would say uh far team-wise, man, like I want us to be dominant this year. I want us to I want to bring in, I want to see some more guys get some offers, some more younger guys, not only just us like juniors, seniors, whatever. Like, I want to see guys all like you know, throughout high school, all throughout high school getting offers. Um I feel like that's kind of how it should be. Um and then for myself, uh, you know, I want to be the number one recruit in the nation. So I have very high expectations of very high goals. Like, do I want to get like at least two touchdowns per game, you know? Like um, yeah, as far as just being the number one, that this is the goal that I have for myself. So I would say that I want to get like two depth in my goals, but um I definitely want to be the number one recruit in the nation when I'm done. By the time you know how they did the five-star releases and stuff just like a couple weeks ago. Exactly. So by the time next year they do the five-star releases and stuff, I should be up there. You know what I'm saying?

Coach Moss 18:20

Yes, sir. So let's talk. What about your tackles? Like, it's it's not that easy to get 96 tackles. Are you trying to get, are you trying to cross that hundred mark this year?

Tyson 18:29

Yes, sir. I ain't gonna lie. I was just telling myself that. That's crazy that you asked me that, because I was just telling myself that, like, how can I like get better far as my tackling? Like, how can I break that? But I was just like, man, I'm doing everything I can to, you know, have a high tackle amount, so I just gotta continue to stay violent and stuff.

Coach Moss 18:51

Yes, sir.

Tyson 18:52

But yeah, I'm definitely trying to reach, break that goal, definitely trying to get to the uh triple digits.

Coach Moss 18:58

Yes,

College LB he's modeling his game after

Coach Moss 18:59

sir. Is so um just speaking on your game, is there a linebacker in the NFL that's kind of that may be similar to your body frame that you kind of um model yourself after?

Tyson 19:12

Okay.

Coach Moss 19:13

I would say um It can be even a college guy if you don't have an NFL guy in mind.

Tyson 19:19

Okay, I would definitely say like Perkins.

Coach Moss 19:22

Okay. From LSU?

Tyson 19:25

Yes, sir, from LSU.

Coach Moss 19:26

Okay, yeah. Makes sense.

Tyson 19:28

Uh and I I feel like when I'm on the edge, I kind of like Sonny when he's on the edge.

Coach Moss 19:34

Okay. Sonny Styles?

Tyson 19:36

Yes, sir.

Coach Moss 19:37

Okay.

Tyson 19:38

Um with the aggressiveness for sure.

Coach Moss 19:40

Yeah. So in your opinion, complete the sentence for me. To lead Eaglesview in tackles as as a senior, you have to be what?

Tyson 19:49

I have to be more violent, more disciplined.

Rapid Fire

Coach Moss 19:53

Yes, sir. So um I got a couple rapid fire questions for you. I like this is like one of my most of my one of my favorite segments of the show. So tackles for loss or sack, what feels better to you? Sack. Okay. Solo or assisted tackle, which one counts more to you?

Tyson 20:13

Solo.

Coach Moss 20:14

Yes, sir. So who's the best running back that you hit this year?

Tyson 20:18

Isaac. I don't know how to go to Christian Academy.

Coach Moss 20:21

Okay. So what's one word that you have for the 96 tackles you had as a junior?

Tyson 20:28

I'm ready. I'm ready to get it all now. I'm ready right now.

Coach Moss 20:32

Yes, sir. So a pick six or a strip sack, which one do you do you want more this year?

Tyson 20:38

I want to pick six. I want to pick six for sure.

Coach Moss 20:41

Got your celebration together?

Tyson 20:43

Oh, yes, sir. Yes, sir. Got some TikTok dancing story.

Message to College Coaches

Coach Moss 20:50

Alright, I'm gonna be looking forward to that now. Yes, sir. So now so now tell me, like, for any college coach that may be looking at you or maybe interested in you, what can you tell them about you that will sell what that would separate you from another linebacker they may be thinking about recruiting?

Tyson 21:06

Man, I'm a leader. First off, like I can lead. You know, um I'm fast, I'm relentless, you know. You get a lot of linebackers that got so-so speed, I can keep up. I'm good at coverage. Um, and I got very good high football IQ. Like, I'm gonna stop a lot of plays naturally, just because uh that's how I do, how I operate. Like, I love the ball game of football, you know what I'm saying?

Coach Moss 21:36

Yes, sir. Um, that's all I got for you today. Thank you. Thanks for coming on.

Tyson 21:40

Yes, sir. Thank you, Coach Moss, for having me, man. This is such a blessing, and I had a great time talking with you.

Coach Moss 21:46

Yes, sir. We're definitely we're definitely gonna um get back up towards the end of the season and reflect on how the season went.

Tyson 21:52

All right, bet, bet. Yes, sir. You have a good one.

DOWNLOAD, RATE, & REVIEW

Coach Moss 21:55

You too. Well, folks, that's a wrap. Shout out to my guest, Mr. Callum. For coming through and keeping it real. You've been listening to Behind the Whistle 904? Please remember to download, rate, and review. And turn on that notification bell so you don't miss miss an episode. See you next time.