Draft Profile: Jack Campbell, LB, Iowa

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The 2023 NFL offseason is here and that means it’s time for mock drafts, draft profiles and everything that goes with them. So without further ado, here’s one of many Draft Profiles for the 2023 NFL draft.

Jack Campbell, LB, Iowa

HT: 6’4
WT: 249 lbs

Accolades:

– 2022 Dick Butkus Award winner for the best linebacker in the nation
– First-team All-America by Walter Camp, Sporting News, Associated Press, FWAA, AFCA and Phil Steele 2022
– 2022 first-team All-Big Ten by league coaches and media
– 2022 Campbell Trophy
– 2021 Academic All-Big Ten, second-team All-America by FWAA and Phil Steele
– Second-team midseason All-America by The Athletic, 2021
– 2021 first-team All-Big Ten by league media and Phil Steele

Video:

Pros:

– Campbell has been a hugely productive player who has received an almost endless list of awards – including the Butkus award
– Prototypical size for the position standing 6-4 and weighing in at 249 lbs combined with excellent speed (4.65 combine forty)
– He’s a sure and violent wrap-up tackler with sideline-to-sideline range. He’s an excellent tackler in space, showing loose hips and the ability to break down and contain runners.
– Can attack the edge with speed and has the flexibility to dip low and under the tackle’s reach.
– Really improved his stock at the combine where he displayed serious explosion putting up a 128 broad jump and a 6.74 three-cone both in the 96th percentile
– Team captain who is like a coach on the field – super smart player quick thinking with a high football IQ
– Good closing speed with long arms to drag down quarterbacks and running backs.
, Campbell will always try to plow into the largest piles and has a good knack of ending up glued to the ball carrier.
– He possesses an intriguing blend of size and movement skills. He has good length, wide shoulders, and long arms, and Campbell has room to add weight.
– Reacts well to draw plays and misdirection, sniffs out screens to his side of the field. Keeps his eyes in the backfield when rushing the passer and uses hands and strength to stay in the play.
– Has complete position versatility – can play any linebacker position as well as on the edge with his hand on the ground
– Has become elite in coverage – plays the position like a pumped-up safety – is easily able to lock down tight ends man-to-man
– Campbell has big value as an inside blitzer as well, showing the initial burst to shoot through gaps and disrupt the backfield.

Cons:

– Occasionally caught out of position if exposed to a lot of presnap activity. Almost too aware and overthinks
– Not fluid enough in space which slows his reaction speed
– Despite the combine agility drills proving otherwise he isn’t quite as twitchy as you would want
– Suffered a knee injury early in 2022 – will need to check out medically
– Campbell is a stretch to be able to cover tight ends or running backs in the NFL.
– Needs to use his hands more violently to defeat blocks while coming after the quarterback at the next level.
– Upper body strength is not elite and will lose power battles against bigger offensive linemen

Summary:

In 2021 as a junior Campbell played in 14 games and contributed on 972 snaps. He recorded an impressive 95 tackles, 44 assists while making a huge 56 stops. In coverage Campbell chalked up 3 pass breakups, 2 interceptions, and a QB rating when targetted of 85.3. As a pass rusher, he produced 13 total pressures, which included 7 QB hurries, 5 QB hits, and one sack on the year.

In 2022 as a senior Campbell had a massive year as he logged playing time in 12 games and a total of 804 snaps for the Hawkeyes. He added 77 tackles, 37 assists, and 47 stops. While in coverage Campbell made one pass breakup, 2 interceptions, and a QB rating when targetted of 70.6. As a pass rusher, he tallied 13 total pressures, which included 9 QB hurries, and 4 QB hits on the season.

Coming into the combine Jack Campbell was known as a hugely dominant, skillful, and successful college player whose only major negative was his reportedly average athletic ability. He proved his doubters very wrong as he displayed speed, explosion, and power in all the drills where he competed. Campbell has a chance to be a special player at the next level and will start as a rookie and has a good chance of quickly establishing himself as a pro-bowl-caliber player.

Campbell has first-round talent, although due to the lack of demand for traditional-style linebackers in the modern pro game, he’ll probably hear his name called in the second round of the 2023 NFL draft.

Information in this article first appeared on NFL Draft Buzz and is used with permission. Find the latest coverage, analysis, and player rankings for the 2023 NFL Draft at nfldraftbuzz.com

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