High School and College Career

Jack Campbell, a 3-star recruit at linebacker who attended Cedar Falls High School, joined the University of Iowa.

During his freshman year in 2019, Campbell played in only 4 games, but during those games, he played a total of 41 snaps at linebacker for the Hawkeyes. He recorded 3 tackles, one assist, and added one stop.

In his sophomore year, Campbell played in 5 games for the Hawkeyes in 2020, taking part in 141 snaps. During this time, he was able to record 24 tackles, 3 assists, and added 18 stops. As a pass rusher, he chalked up 7 total pressures, and 6 QB hurries, but he was unable to produce any QB hits. Additionally, Campbell was able to make 2 pass breakups and an interception while having a QB rating of 79.6.

Campbell’s junior year in 2021 was perhaps his most significant year at Iowa, as he played in 14 games and contributed on 972 snaps. Campbell made 95 tackles, 44 assists, and an astonishing 56 stops during the season. As a pass rusher, he was able to produce 13 total pressures, which included 7 QB hurries, 5 QB hits, and one sack on the year. In coverage, Campbell made three pass breakups, recorded two interceptions, and had a QB rating of 85.3.

In his senior year in 2022, Campbell’s success continued. He played in 12 games and logged a total of 804 snaps, making 77 tackles, 37 assists, and a whopping 47 stops. As a pass rusher, he tallied 13 total pressures, including 9 QB hurries and 4 QB hits on the season. Additionally, he made one pass breakup, 2 interceptions, and had a QB rating of 70.6.

Jack Campbell Scouting Report Introduction

The Butkus Award is one of the most prestigious honors in college football for linebackers. In 2022, Iowa’s Jack Campbell was the recipient of this award, demonstrating his exceptional skill and talent on the field. Throughout his career at Iowa, Campbell was consistently recognized for his contributions to the team, earning various accolades such as consensus All-American honors, being named a permanent team captain, and receiving numerous awards for academics and recognition from coaches.

Campbell’s success on the field can be attributed to his impressive skillset as a linebacker, including his throwback frame that is ideal for serving as a downhill second-level defender in the NFL. Despite the trend towards smaller linebackers, Campbell remains an exception, and his physique allows him to leverage gaps and fit the run, making him a formidable presence on the field.

One of Campbell’s most notable strengths is his ability to stack and shed blocks while playing off contact. He processes the run game well and can navigate congested areas to locate the ball carrier. And, when it comes to coverage, Campbell holds his own as a hook/curl/flats defender. He has a strong understanding of spacing, squeezing routes, and eye discipline, which were showcased in his coverage reps during the 2022 season.

While Campbell is a sufficient athlete, he lacks top-end range and may struggle in man coverage. His high-hipped frame limits his ability to flip his hips, transition, and change directions quickly. In addition to a few potential drawbacks, Campbell also has a wealth of positive attributes, including his experience in all phases of special teams, secure tackling ability, and good control on the field.

In summary, Jack Campbell is a smart, instinctive, and physical linebacker with top-end intangibles, making him a likely starting MIKE at the next level. While he does have some minor limitations, Campbell’s strengths outweigh any potential weaknesses as he delivers a highly productive career for Iowa while earning the prestigious Butkus Award in 2022.

Strengths

Jack Campbell is a highly productive and decorated football player who has received numerous accolades, including the prestigious Butkus award. As a player, he possesses the ideal size for his position, standing tall at 6 feet 4 inches and weighing in at 249 pounds. Furthermore, he boasts excellent speed, having recorded a 4.65 combine forty, which puts him ahead of many other players in his position.

One of Campbell’s notable strengths is his ability to wrap up and tackle aggressively with a high level of violence. He covers ground quickly, exhibiting sideline-to-sideline range, and is an exceptional tackler in open spaces. Campbell displays loose hips, making him deadly in containing runners, and has the flexibility to dip low and go under a tackle’s reach while attacking the edge with speed.

Campbell’s stock went up after the combine, where he demonstrated serious explosiveness with a 128 broad jump and a 6.74 three-cone.

He exhibits good closing speed and has long arms, which he uses to drag quarterbacks and running backs down. Campbell is known for his determination to get to the ball and always tries to plow into the largest piles to make a tackle.

Campbell possesses a combination of size and movement skills that is captivating to-watch. He is built with long arms, wide shoulders, and has room to add more weight. Furthermore, he reacts well to draw plays and misdirection, sniffs out screens on his side of the field, and keeps his eyes on the backfield while providing pressure as a passer.

One of Campbell’s notable assets is his position versatility. He can play any linebacker position and also be deployed on the edge with his hand on the ground.

Finally, Campbell is an excellent inside blitzer and can shoot through gaps and disrupt the backfield.

Weaknesses

Campbell’s reaction speed often suffers from a lack of fluidity, despite proving during combine agility drills that he possesses the necessary physical attributes.

One factor that could hinder Campbell in the future is his knee injury early in 2022. While the severity of this injury is unknown, it could end up impacting his ability to perform at the next level. Furthermore, Campbell’s skillset may not be ideally suited to covering tight ends or running backs in the context of the NFL, meaning that he may struggle in these areas if utilized in these positions.

Another area of improvement for Campbell would be to use his hands more actively in order to defeat blocks while coming after the quarterback at the next level. This would require Campbell to be more aggressive and assertive in his gameplay, and would likely be something that his coaches would work with him to improve over time. Additionally, Campbell’s upper body strength is not elite, meaning he may struggle in power battles against larger offensive linemen.

Overall, while Campbell is a player with a lot of potential, he also possesses several weaknesses that could hold him back in the future. Coaches and medical staff will need to monitor his knee injury carefully, and he will need to improve his awareness and aggression on the field to maximize his potential.

Jack Campbell is our 76th prospect on our draft big board.