Jihaad Campbell 2025 NFL Draft: Scouting report for Alabama Crimson Tide LB

Story from the tape

Campbell is a hybrid defender whose best future likely lies in an aggressive blitz/simulated pressure system. This is a talent that shows many different potential roles in the way he plays on defense for Alabama. He’s a formidable chess piece who can help solve multiple personnel issues each week. But more importantly, he clearly plays a major role in defense, which is crucial for the so-called “positionless” defensive prospects. That’s not Campbell who should be blamed for playing stack linebacker.

Campbell exemplifies the impact as a run defender, but also plays as a scraper and runs beyond the point of attack. He’s also shown some really desirable reps as a plug-fitter, although his pad height consistency and discipline to stay at the point of attack in these instances needs improvement.

He would be useful in either role, thanks to his length and use of his hands to create separation before blocks slip, as well as his quickness when climbing over blocks onto his lap. He is a physical finisher in the run game and his tackling radius is increased by long arms and a good secondary attack on the ball carrier.

Campbell’s play diagnosis in an off-ball role against the run can become more sophisticated and is a growth opportunity for him. His aggressiveness and quick nature can sometimes take him a step or two out of leverage positions based on eye candy and false indicators that deter him from football. If he can be more patient when reading the play in the backfield and trust his athleticism, it will go a long way toward helping him make more efficient plays at or near the line of scrimmage.

He has made a number of tackles in the open field that are really convincing because of his ability to get a wrap, push the ball carrier up and concede without falling forward to gain extra space – even when in a Steep angles for tackling lead to a sideline.

He has wild pads to finish and is efficient too. Campbell has a seven percent missed tackle rate in his Alabama career; In 2024, this value was just over 5.5 percent.

His strength lies in pass defense. He is a capable talent to play zone coverage or rush the passer. It may be tempting to demote him to a full-time pass rusher role in 2024 because of his impressive rush reps on and off the ball, but that doesn’t seem to be doing Campbell any favors.

He has shown a speed-rush and rip-and-dip combination off the edge while displaying good ankle flexibility and cornering ability to turn the corner tight on a tackle and bounce back around his outside hip and back to the quarterback. But Campbell doesn’t have the power or elite to truly live in that world full-time, and his optimal rush role involves second-level constraints created by stealth.

Thanks to his ability to hide second-level pressure and use the center to help a lineman before emerging unchallenged through an A-gap, Campbell was able to overcome some wide-open gaps from deep. It’s a strain on the back that you have to reinforce and try to protect. At the very least, you should expect him to reduce the depth of the pocket and use his length to make the quarterback uncomfortable.

However, Campbell can be prone to clever counterattacks when he’s with an offensive lineman – LSU’s Will Campbell once threw him to the ground on an inside spin and would have thrown him for a second if Campbell hadn’t been bumped into a pile along the way down. He can sustain his rush with high pads at times and needs to extend his rush counters off the edge, even though he knows his profile isn’t particularly strong.

As a coverage defender, Campbell is an effective zone option to play in the middle of the field. His anticipation of everything from throws to checkdowns after dropping to a milestone gives him the ability to minimize the extra distance underneath and force the offense to gain its advantages. He shows good transition skills with enough hips and can cross over the middle or clean up same-sided breaks.

Ideal schema matching,role

Campbell would be best suited as a dominant stack linebacker at the NFL level. Simulated pressure systems will delight in its ability to time second stage rushes and provide protection before they hit a gap at full speed.

His confidence on zone breaks and his ability to play efficiently underneath make him a productive rally player in pass coverage. His target should be to see him as an instinctive role player early on, with the ability to develop into a full-time starter for a program, allowing him to take on other duties as the situation dictates.

Degree: 81.50/100.00, late first/early second round value

Big Board Rank: Still open

Position rank: Still open

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