Everybody should get a moment like Jihaad Campbell. To have millions of people experience it with you has to be wild.

The University of Alabama linebacker and South Jersey native was picked by the Eagles in the first round of the NFL Draft Thursday night.

To say he was excited about the selection would be a massive understatement.

Yet ANOTHER first-round draft pick who was recruited to Alabama by Coach Saban 🤯🔥

Nick Saban talks about what makes 31st overall pick Jihaad Campbell a great addition to the Eagles 💪 pic.twitter.com/EzXAzB0KaO

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 25, 2025

Campbell, 21, is originally from Erial in Gloucester Township, N.J., and grew up rooting for the Birds. When the 215 area code appeared on his phone, he had a good feeling.

“Once I seen the number I was like, ‘Hmm, pretty interesting, OK,’” he said in a press conference. “I answered it, you know it’s Howie [Roseman, Eagles general manager]. He was like, ‘You know what this is?’ I was like ‘Nah.’ And then that’s when he was like, ‘It’s Howie Roseman.’ I was about to break down, man, because it was just a surreal moment for me and my family.”  

Campbell listed LeSean McCoy, Darren Sproles, Brandon Graham, Michael Vick, DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin as some of his favorite Eagles players. He has memories of his grandfather watching the Birds back in the Randall Cunningham days.

Campbell played his first three years of high school at Timber Creek Regional High School in Erial, before transferring to the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., for his senior year. With the Crimson Tide, he had a breakout senior season, leading the team with 117 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, and five sacks over 13 games, which earned him a first-team All-SEC spot and was a semifinalist for the Butkus Award, given to college football’s top linebacker.

Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell (11) celebrates his sack against Mercer during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)

Campbell went to Alabama as an edge rusher, but eventually moved inside to linebacker, so he matches the profile that Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio loves in that position. Campbell claimed no preference for where he would line up, saying he just wanted to play and be “a dominant force for the defense.”

“We think he is a versatile player who can do a lot of different things,” Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said. “Obviously, the main thing that you see is the energy that he plays with, the speed that he plays with, and relentless effort that he plays with, and that fits on defense.”

Some teams had concerns about shoulder surgery that Campbell had after the NFL Combine, which repaired  a torn left labrum he suffered this past season. Roseman said the Eagles had no long-term concerns about Campbell’s health and didn’t anticipate that he would be available late in the first round. They ended up trading up one spot, to select him with the 31st overall pick.

“Some of the other teams may have reasons for taking other players, but for us, this was a real easy pick.” said Roseman, also revealing that Campbell was a top-10 player on the team’s draft board. “Really explosive player. He can play inside, he can be an edge rusher. Just really excited to bring him back to Philadelphia.”

Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell (11) tackles Missouri running back Marcus Carroll (9) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)

Other teams’ apprehensions seem to be the Eagles’ gain, as some experts saw him as an underranked option even before draft day.

One of my strongest beliefs about this draft: If Alabama LB Jihaad Campbell falls, some team is going to get an absolute steal. Extremely high upside prospect. pic.twitter.com/yJhIe1ZoRg

— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) April 23, 2025

Campbell said he’s taking his injury recovery day by day. Neither he nor the team offered a clear timeline about when he’ll be able to suit up for the Birds. What was incredibly clear, though, was just how excited he was join his the team he grew up supporting and help the try to win another Super Bowl.