2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Jihaad Campbell (LB – Alabama)

FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL Draft scouting reports before the Combine in March. Here’s a look at Alabama Linebacker Jihaad Campbell. And check out our entire 2025 NFL Draft Guide.

2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Jihaad Campbell

Jihaad Campbell (LB – Alabama)

6’3” – 244 lbs.

Background:

Attended the IMG Academy, playing both wide receiver and defensive end. A five-star recruit who played a dozen snaps in 2022 before taking over a starting linebacker role a few games into the 2023 season, finishing the year with 532 snaps and a 66-4.0-0.5 line. Saw his playing time increase this year, and as of the end of the regular season, has a 106-12.0-5.0 line.

Positives:

Two-year starter who’s adapted to playing linebacker quickly, with escalating output. A well-built linebacker with a bit of a throwback frame and nice length. Rarely fooled by misdirection, with solid overall instincts/awareness. Trusts his reads and gets downhill quickly in the run game, with an impressive closing burst and plenty of stopping power. Flashes the discipline to stay home on the backside and maintain his run fits. Rangy player with solid speed and an impressive motor in pursuit. Has a little bit of shiftiness to slip by would-be blockers in the run game. Nice open-field tackler whose length gives him a wide radius. Fundamentally sound backpedals when spot-dropping into zones, and has the quick feet to play in high zones on Tampa-2 concepts. Able to shade over slot receivers and pattern-match on shorter routes. Good timing to drive on a spot and go for the breakup. Disguises his A-gap blitzes pretty well, and has impressive closing burst and length to finish when he finds a lane. Lined up as an edge rusher at times, with a low center of gravity and explosive movement skills to threaten the edge with speed. Also has some ability to convert speed to power, with a relentless approach. Length allows him to contest passing lanes.

Negatives:

Lets his center of gravity get high at times, leading to balance issues. Could be more disciplined about keeping his shoulders square when flowing to the ball. Some slight tendencies to overpursue stretch/toss concepts. Fast for a linebacker, but may struggle to stick with flex tight ends who can stop and start quickly. Relies heavily on his speed and explosiveness as a pass-rusher, but could stand to develop a more sophisticated rush approach. The balance on his spin counter isn’t the most impressive.

Summary:

A versatile modern linebacker who could do a little bit of everything in school and stopped the stat sheet this past season, offering an impressive combination of awareness, effort, range, and explosiveness. May not be quite the finished product some previous Alabama linebackers have been, but has made a lot of progress since arriving in school, and his development trajectory is very projectable. Would fit best in a team that lets him play in different roles to maximize his skillset, somewhat reminiscent of Jamie Collins.

Projection: Round 1-2

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