Bull rider, 20, shows scary-good talent at NFR

By Adam Hill

Las Vegas Review-Journal

6 years ago

Boudreaux Campbell, of Crockett, Texas, rides "Lumberjack" while competing in bull riding during the fourth go-round of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018. Caroline Brehman/Las Vegas Review-Journal

Boudreaux Campbell, of Crockett, Texas, falls off of "Lumberjack" while competing in bull riding during the fourth go-round of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018. Caroline Brehman/Las Vegas Review-Journal

Nick Guy, of Sparta, Wis, competes in steer wrestling during the fourth go-round of the National Finals Rodeo at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018. Caroline Brehman/Las Vegas Review-Journal

Boudreaux Campbell is in his second National Finals Rodeo and still hasn’t experienced all Las Vegas has to offer.

“I’m usually just walking around or shopping or just seeing as much as I can when I’m here,” the 20-year-old bull rider said before failing to cover Lumberjack in Sunday’s fourth go-round at the Thomas & Mack Center. “There’s a lot to do here in Vegas, but next year will definitely be pretty fun when I’m 21.

“Hopefully I’ll make it back.”

There’s nothing to suggest he won’t be able to qualify for years to come.

Campbell, nicknamed “Boo,” was a two-time high school state champion in Crockett, Texas, and turned pro while he was still pursuing his diploma. He would make a five-figure check on the weekend and be back in school on Monday morning.

“It was a lot of fun,” he laughed. “I got in a lot of trouble. I tried to go to college, but I wasn’t a very good student. I wanted to do everything but school.”

He already knew what he wanted to do so as soon as he graduated in June 2017. He started traveling to more rodeos and quickly found enough success to make the NFR last year.

“This was always Plan A,” he said. “I never thought of a Plan B. I never had a backup plan. If you start setting backup plans, it distracts you from your main goal. It’s not an option for me. This is what I want to do.”

Campbell credits his father Jay with teaching him the finer points of the sport and transporting him to rodeos all over the country as he pursued his dream.

“He’s given me everything,” Campbell said. “He said he never rode really good, but he sure does help me out a lot. He can watch it and be able to tell me what I do wrong. He’s been a huge help in all of this.”

Campbell insists he’s here to do more than just compete. He dreams of being great.

“It was such a blessing to make it last year, but right away as soon as I made it, I knew I could ride with these boys,” he said. “I knew I was here for a reason. I just have to show it. I want to win multiple world titles.”

Campbell believes he could be retired by 30 and spend his later years raising cattle on a ranch in Texas.

He’s well on his way.

He entered Sunday’s go-round 12th in the PRCA standings for the year with $116,431 in earnings despite being bucked off each of the first three bulls he drew at the NFR.

Campbell grew up playing football, baseball, basketball and ran track, but nothing could compare to the feeling he got from covering a bull.

Qualifying for the NFR at 19 years old last year reinforced his confidence. Then, after being bucked off the bull in rounds two through eight, he earned a share of the ninth-round victory.

It helped prove he belonged.

At least until the nightly ceremony when the rest of the night’s victors accepted the celebratory bottles of whiskey that go to the go-round winners.

Maybe next year.

Contact Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-277-8028. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on Twitter.