Jihaad Campbell 2025 NFL Draft Alabama LB Scouting Report
In a talented 2025 NFL Draft class, Jihaad Campbell is a talented edge rusher who exudes athleticism. Campbell is a talented linebacker from Alabam with high upside and potential in the NFL. Today, we’ll break down his NFL outlook in this scouting report. We will be breaking down his strengths, areas for improvement, and his potential draft grade.
Jihaad Campbell 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report
Campbell arrived at Alabama as a highly touted five-star recruit. Initially, he was pegged as an elite edge rusher out of IMG Academy. After starting his high school career at Timber Creek in New Jersey, he transferred to IMG, where he showcased positional versatility as both a defensive end and wide receiver. His athletic profile and adaptability earned him offers from top programs like Clemson, Georgia, and Ohio State before he committed to Alabama.
Over three seasons with the Crimson Tide, Campbell transitioned from a special teams contributor as a freshman to a full-time starter and defensive leader by his junior year in 2024. Impressively, he had a breakout campaign that earned him All-SEC honors. More importantly, he earned some widespread NFL attention as well.
Campbell possesses a prototypical linebacker frame with excellent length and a sturdy build that suggests he can add more mass without sacrificing agility. His long arms enhance his tackle radius and ability to engage blockers, while his explosive lower-body power drives his closing speed and burst as a blitzer. Overall, at his size, he has the size to hold up in the box and the athleticism to roam sideline-to-sideline, making him a rare blend of power and range for the position.
HT: 6027
WT: 235
40: 4.52
ARM: 3100
Strengths
- Athletic Versatility: Campbell’s ability to play multiple roles—stack linebacker, edge rusher, and coverage defender—stands out. Alabama deployed him in simulated pressure packages, where his quick first step and bend allowed him to disrupt backfields, while his fluidity in space enabled him to drop into zones effectively.
- Explosive Playmaking: His 2024 stat line (over 100 tackles, 11.5 TFLs, five sacks) reflects a knack for being around the ball. Campbell’s short-area burst and lateral quickness let him close gaps rapidly, whether chasing down perimeter runs or timing blitzes.
- Coverage Upside: Despite his edge rusher roots, Campbell shows natural movement skills in zone coverage. He reads quarterbacks well, maintains disciplined eye placement, and uses his length to contest passing lanes, evidenced by multiple pass breakups and an interception in college.
- Physicality: He plays with a downhill mentality, delivering jarring hits as a tackler and showing willingness to take on blockers. His tackling technique is sound, with a low miss rate and consistent wrap-up ability in open-field situations.
- Youth and Growth Potential: At just 21 years old entering the draft, Campbell’s rapid development from a rotational player to Alabama’s defensive anchor suggests a high ceiling with further coaching.
Areas for Improvement
- Processing Speed: While instinctive, Campbell can be baited by misdirection and play-action, occasionally losing gap discipline or biting on fakes. His aggressive nature sometimes pulls him out of position against savvy offenses.
- Block Shedding: Against bigger offensive linemen, he struggles to disengage once locked up, relying more on speed and agility than refined hand usage or leverage. His stack-and-shed technique remains a work in progress.
- Coverage Nuance: Though fluid, Campbell lacks polish in man-to-man assignments, particularly against shifty receivers or tight ends with advanced route-running. His zone drops are strong, but he can lose awareness when routes develop behind him.
- Pass Rush Arsenal: As a blitzer, he wins with speed and explosiveness but lacks a diverse set of moves to counter blockers consistently. His edge rushing feels raw and better suited as a situational tool than a primary role.
- Injury History: A knee scope sidelined him for the 2023 opener, and while he’s shown durability, any lingering concerns could warrant closer medical evaluation.
Conclusion
Campbell is a high-upside linebacker with the tools to thrive in today’s NFL, where speed and adaptability are king. Specifically, his youth, athletic gifts, and steep developmental curve point to a player who could anchor a defense for a decade provided he hones his instincts and technique. Ultimately, a top-20 pick feels justified as he’s a rare athlete with the intangibles to match.
Furthermore, Campbell’s blend of size, speed, and versatility makes him a premium prospect at a position where true difference-makers are scarce. Teams needing a dynamic second-level defender—like the Chiefs, Rams, or Patriots—could see him as a cornerstone piece.
Campbell profiles as a versatile linebacker best suited for a 4-3 scheme as a weakside (WILL) or middle (MIKE) linebacker, though his skill set could adapt to a 3-4 outside role in specific packages. All in all, his ideal fit is with a creative defensive coordinator who can leverage his athleticism in simulated pressures and zone-heavy coverages while allowing him to grow into a full-time green-dot communicator. Overall, he projects as a Day 1 starter with Pro Bowl potential by Year 2, assuming he refines his mental processing and block-shedding technique.
Similar to Roquan Smith, Campbell combines sideline-to-sideline range with physicality and coverage ability. However, he’s far less polished at this stage than Smith was. Additionally, his hybrid traits echo shades of Micah Parsons’ early linebacker usage, albeit without the same elite pass-rush ceiling. Ultimately, Campbell has a ton of upside and potential in the NFL.
Round Grade: 2nd Round
Stats: Per Sports Reference
| Season | Team | G | Solo | Ast | TFL | Sk | Int | PD | FR | FF |
| 2022* | Alabama | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023* | Alabama | 13 | 34 | 32 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 2024* | Alabama | 13 | 54 | 63 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Career | 35 | 88 | 96 | 16 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
Trending Now
