North Carolina State University Athletics
Senior Spotlight: WR Dayton Campos
10/2/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
RALEIGH, N.C. - When redshirt senior Dayton Campos arrived at NC State five years ago, he tried out for the football team but didn't make it.
Even though he didn't make it his freshman year, that didn't stop him from having the courage to try out a second time. Now entering his third season as a Wolfpacker, that decision to try one more time has allowed Campos to be surrounded by a sport he loves so much.
"When I first didn't make I it figured I was done with football and that it wasn't for me. When I talked to my dad about it though he told me I could always try out one more time, and if it doesn't work out it then doesn't work out. He reminded me that ultimately I was here for school," Campos said.
"I focused on my academics for those first two years, but then decided to try out my junior year and when I did make it, it was really exciting. Ever since it has been a grind though; I haven't really played but that's fine because I just love being around football."
Although Campos is also a member of the Theta Chi fraternity at NC State, being a part of the football family has given him the chance to make long-lasting friendships.
"The biggest part I love about it is the friends I have made playing on the team. I had friends at school already, but after joining the team I have become really close to several guys on the team. I consider a couple of them--like Niles Clark, Brandon Pittman and Tyler Smith to be lifelong friends."
As a youngster, Campos was involved in several sports, but football was the one he allowed the biggest priority and the most of his time.
"My father put me into flag football at age four when we lived in California, and I started liking it more than soccer and basketball, which I also played growing up. I played baseball as well, and I played it the longest aside from football," Campos said.
"I liked baseball but football was always the sport I seemed to gravitate toward," he added.
In high school, the Jacksonville, N.C., native was recruited by North Carolina A&T and Campbell University for football, but neither sparked Campos' interest to continue his career at the time.
"I was recruited by smaller schools, but out of high school I wasn't sure what I wanted to do. I talked to my parents and they gave me the choice between going to school for football or academics. I picked academics and chose NC State because it was the best school I got into," Campos said.
A sports management major and environmental science minor, Campos will graduate in May 2015, with plans to continue furthering his education.
"This fall I am applying to Campbell and George Washington University for law school. I want to either be an environmental law attorney or get into sports representation and entertainment law."
Aside from football, Campos has traveled internationally as a part of his environmental science major. He studied abroad in New Zealand for three weeks over the summer.
"It was all on sustainability of the conservation over there. That's what they stress over there: clean, green energy and taking care of the environment," Campos said.
"Going over there was probably the best thing I have done in college. The experience was amazing; I don't think I have been to a prettier country than New Zealand."
Traveling is nothing new to Campos. His father, Aurelio, is in the military, so throughout his childhood he has lived in many places like Guam and Japan.
"Growing up in a military family had its ups and downs. As a little kid I hated moving because I had to leave all of my friends and start over, but it has helped me in the long run because I feel like it is easier to meet new people, especially since I've been in college," Campos said.
"It was hard as well when my dad had to go overseas. He went to Iraq at least six times, but my mom kept us all together and kept us in line."
Campos is one of four children. He has two sisters, Alysondria, 26, Alyceanna, 13, and a brother, Dalton, 15.
His life-changing experience over the summer, as well has his previous traveling background, has convinced Campos that traveling is a must in his future endeavors.
"Now that I have been there I definitely want to travel more, especially for business. Any career where I can travel and see the world would be ideal," Campos said.
"I enjoy hiking and that was something we did a lot over in New Zealand, as well as sea kayaking and bungee jumping. I want to get into more of that as I travel to other places."
