Will Campbell Reminds Former NFL Scout of This Hall of Famer

LSU left tackle Will Campbell reminds me of Hall of Fame left tackle Gary Zimmerman.

I grew up in Minnesota and watched Zimmerman play for the Vikings in 184 games over 12 seasons (1986-1997). He finished his career playing for the Denver Broncos. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008. That’s the name that popped into my mind as I watched Campbell. It was the way Campbell moved that reminded me most of Zimmerman.

Ironically, the two are the same height, but Campbell is 29 pounds heavier.

What stands out most?

His high football IQ.

Campbell plays smart, and there’s a premium on that.

The game is won or lost from the neck up.

That’s the saying in the NFL.

Teams are going to really like this about Campbell. It’s one thing for an offensive lineman to be big and strong. They’re all big and strong. It’s quite another thing to know how to respond to all of these premiere pass rushers and the most complex defensive schemes.

Campbell handled everything defenses threw at him. I don’t care what they did, stunt, blitz, send delayed blitzes, or try a bunch of pass-rush moves against him. It didn’t matter. He handled all of it and he kept defenders off his quarterback.

Compensates with high effort

Campbell gets after it.

This is another of his best traits that stood out on his game film. I studied every snap he took in 2023 and game after game he sold out. He left it all on the field.

His two biggest limitations are an average anchor (ability to withstand strong bull rush attempts by defensive linemen) and above-average (but not great) lateral footspeed, which is important for left tackles when it comes to sealing off the perimeter of the pocket. However, he makes up for his limitations with his extreme competitiveness. He will chase, push, and do whatever it takes to get the job done. That’s why he didn’t give up a sack in 2023 and gave up 17 pressures in 13 games.

The game of football is important to him.

Run blocking

He lives to run block ⎯his physicality really comes out.

This is where he EXCELS.

Campbell seems to enjoy run blocking most. He likes to fire off the snap and clear the way for ball carriers, especially by the goal line. It is not uncommon to see him pancake defenders either, which is when offensive linemen put defenders flat on their backs.

He also loves to obliterate defensive backs.

The importance of left tackles

There is no substitute for a great offensive line. While there is a temptation to take the shiny new quarterback, it all starts up front.

Get the offensive line right first and then the quarterback remains standing.

Think of the offensive line as the engine in a car.

#66 Will Campbell 6-foot-6, 320 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s 2024 Fall Grade: First Round (I would select him)

Projected by 94.8% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of October 6, 2024 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

2023 game film evaluated: Alabama, Mississippi State, Missouri, FSU, Ole Miss, Florida, Arkansas, Grambling, Auburn, Army, Georgia State, Texas A&M, and Wisconsin (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Athletic frame and an aggressive nature. Long arms. Uses hands well in pass protection. Not flashy. Doesn’t cross his feet over when sliding out. Coordinated. Good balance. Does have a tendency to stop sliding once engaged, but compensates with a strong will to win. Handled spin and swim pass rush moves. Good instincts. Works well in concert with other linemen. Mixed results against edge rushers Dallas Turner (Alabama) and Jared Verse (FSU). Best with leverage on run plays. High effort. Inconsistent sustain. Can overaggress. Solid at the 2nd level and further downfield. It’s not always pretty but he gets the job done most of the time.

What to watch for during the 2024 college football season

1. How does he look vs. speed rushers?

2. How does he look vs. bull rushes?

3. Controlling run blocks consistently?

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 is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, and has written for Sports Illustrated (Lions, Jets, and 49ers), NFL Draft Diamonds, and Yardbarker, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. Follow on Twitter @firstroundmock.