Jack Campbell Earns First Round Grade From Former NFL Scout

Iowa’s Jack Campbell is a combination between a throwback and a modern day middle linebacker.

He’s fun to watch and he’s the type of defender who could have played in any era. Heck, I can envision him playing back in the day wearing a leather helmet.

He’s a tackling machine, plus he’s athletic and he can run.

As someone who was hired in pro scouting at the New York Jets when Hall of Fame Coach Bill Parcells was there, Campbell is one hell of a football player.

Yeah, I’ll put my name on him. Save the receipts on this one.

He’s exactly the type of player who moves the meter, and he raises everyone’s level of play around him.

Campbell is a highlight tape

A lot of guys like to put together highlight tapes of their best plays, but Campbell IS a highlight tape.

You don’t have to comb through his game film and cherry pick a good play here and there, this guy brings it on every play.

Does he make every play, no, but he is either making the tackle or close to making the tackle on most every play…

Yes.

Campbell is all over the field.

“The Jack Hammer”

Campbell hammers it inside against the run.

He’s got the raw brute strength to get physical with the big boys inside, and he has the technique to shed their blocks and make rock-solid wrapping form tackles.

One of the things I love about Campbell the most is he is a “line of scrimmage linebacker.”

What does that mean?

He’s not one of these inside linebackers who stands around playing flag football with blockers at the second-level waiting for the back to reach him before he can make the stop after four, five, six yards have been gained.

No, that’s not Campbell.

I hardly had room in my notes for how many tackles and assists he made at or near the line of scrimmage.

Campbell wants it.

Three down linebacker

Back when I grew up in the 1980’s during the era of smash-mouth football, it was known middle linebackers who play the run like Campbell does, could not provide pass coverage.

In fact, they were often subbed out in passing situations on 3rd down.

That doesn’t describe Campbell.

Not only can he drop into coverage – – he looks good doing it. He can drop into shallow to intermediate zones and he can run with backs and tight-ends in man coverage.

Campbell also provides a lot of tackling support downfield.

The one drawback about Campbell in pass coverage is he lacks that extra burst of speed, but he makes some plays out of shear desire.

Disruptive in the pocket

One of the biggest needs an NFL defense has these days is finding defenders who can disrupt the pocket against the pass.

Campbell showed he can do that when he is unblocked.

There were a number of times in this three-game study Campbell plowed into the quarterback right after he threw.

#31 Jack Campbell 6-foot-5, 246 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s Grade: First-Round – Early Fall 2022 Report

First Round Mock Big Board: TBD

Projected by 5.2% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of October 29, 2022 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

2021 game film reviewed: Penn State, Michigan and Iowa State (click to watch games viewed to form this evaluation)

Level of competition: High

2021 stats: 140 tackles (57 solo, 83 assists), 1 forced fumble, 5 passes defended, 1 sack (7 pressures nfldraftbuzz.com)

NFL Comparable: Chris Spielman

2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report:

Stout physical inside linebacker who can cover and has good range. Fast key and diagnose against the run. Aggressively attacks line of scrimmage. Strong at the point of attack. Does a good job taking on and shedding blocks to make good looking wrapping tackles. Rarely subject to over-pursuit. Can drop into zones and run with backs and tight-ends in man. Excellent providing support sideline to sideline. Good, but not top-shelf range, which shows up from time to time on missed opportunities. Blitzes often, but gets stalemated versus blockers. Best when he can run in clean and get pressure. Lacks short area burst and struggles to make quick adjustments in the pocket, but makes his presence felt. Productive difference maker.

What to watch for during the 2022 college football season:

1. Passes defended/Int. stats
2. Number of pressures/sacks
3. How does his range look?
4. Does he over-pursue on run plays?

I can totally see Campbell on the Detroit Lions next season.

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He currently writes for Sports Illustrated New York Jets and he is the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. He can be followed on Twitter @firstroundmock.