Former NFL Scout Puts Big Words on Linebacker Jihaad Campbell

It’s all about finding playmakers in the first round, and Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell is a playmaker.

His game film screams it, and the numbers confirm it in 2024.

13 games played

117 tackles (54 solo)

12 tackles for loss

5 sacks

1 interception

2 passes defended

2 forced fumbles

1 fumble recovery

With his elite speed, burst, and athleticism, Campbell was all over the field this past season, logging 112 snaps on the defensive line, 27 snaps at slot, 1 snap at corner, 637 snaps in the box, and 4 snaps deep (Pro Football Focus).

Add in 10 hurries, and 20 quarterback pressures, and yeah, he’s the best off-the-ball pure linebacking prospect I’ve evaluated since I jumped back into the evaluation game in 2021.

Addressing the elephant in the room

Per NBC Sports, Campbell did not participate in Alabama’s Pro Day after undergoing shoulder surgery

“Campbell told Jordan Reid of ESPN that he required surgery for a torn labrum following the Scouting Combine, where he ran a 4.52 in the 40-yard dash and went 10 feet, 7 inches in the broad jump. He did not bench press or do the vertical jump.”

The report went on to state, “The injury puts his availability for the start of the season in doubt.”

There is speculation that this injury occurred against Michigan in the Reliaquest Bowl on Dec. 31. That’s the way it looked on film, and they ruled him out for the rest of the game after suffering what the team called an upper body injury.

It begs the question: Why did he wait until after the Scouting Combine (Feb. 27 – March 2) to have surgery?

What are the positives?

Where do I begin?

He flies all over the place and tackles like a sledgehammer.

Campbell is a classic “run and hit linebacker.” Sideline-to-sideline, shooting around, crushing whoever has the ball in his hand like a tin can.

He’s at his best when he doesn’t have to think about it, whether that’s on a blitz or in man-to-man pass coverage (the defender is responsible for covering a specific offensive player).

Campbell can run with anybody, and he covers like a blanket in man.

That frustrating hesitation

Man, Campbell always bites hard on play-action passes or ANY kind of play misdirection the offense shows. Consistently, he goes a step or two in whatever direction the offense baits him into going. Thankfully, he has enough juice and pure athleticism to recover to make the tackle or at least end up in the general vicinity.

He’s EXTREMELY INSTINCTUAL, but when he has to try to read and react it screws with his head and causes a split second processing delay and that split second is all offenses need to establish leverage on passing and running plays.

Whoever gets him ⎯scheme him so he doesn’t have to think about it.

NFL projection

⚠️

I feel like the caution sign is up as I write this evaluation.

That said, I know his “limitations,” and I assume the risk. I also understand how important it is for rookies to be “all-in” for mini-camp and training camp to have a fighting chance at cracking the starting lineup.

I just keep coming back to how he looked on film.

#11 Jihaad Campbell 6-foot-3, 235 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s 2025 Final NFL Draft Grade: First-Round (I would select him)

Projected by 47.0% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of April 13, 2025 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

2024 game film evaluated: Western Kentucky, USF, Wisconsin, Georgia, Vanderbilt, South Carolina, Tennessee, Missouri, LSU, Mercer, Oklahoma, Auburn, and Michigan (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

Best fit: Ravens

2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report

A violent and fast-playing complete three-down linebacker who plays like football is important to him. Toned, athletic, muscular frame. Long arms. Agile. Physical. Good playing strength. Electric twitch. Accelerates. Raw technique beating blocks when blitzing or playing run defense. Vanilla pass rushing toolbox. Wins shooting inside gaps or using speed blitzing after tackles. Fluid pocket adjustments. Can tip passes as he’s screaming in. Attacks holes on running plays. “Decent” tackler. Can physically impede routes. After the fact tackler in zone.

Final words

Shades of Ravens’ Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis.

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.