On a late Saturday night in September 2023, Alabama linebackers coach Robert Bala approached Jihaad Campbell in the away locker room at Davis Wade Stadium after the sophomore linebacker’s first career start in a victory over Mississippi State.
“I said, ‘Hey, nice job today.’ (Jihaad) was like, ‘Yeah, thanks, coach, but you’re going to see this on film,’” Bala, who is currently the co-defensive coordinator at Florida, told NJ Advance Media recently.
Most players would have been happy to finish with 14 tackles, a half a sack and one interception in their first start, but Campbell strives for perfection.
“This was before we (watched the film) on the iPad,” Bala said. “You can get a sense of what happened with your eyes during the game as a coach, but you really see everything on film. He was taking accountability right there, and I always appreciated that about him.”
Campbell, who was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles with the 31st pick of the 2025 NFL Draft in late April, could be a star in the making at linebacker/edge rusher for Philadelphia‘s next championship defense — if he stays healthy. The 21-year-old has suffered multiple knee injuries and could miss the beginning of training camp after undergoing left shoulder surgery in March to repair a torn labrum.
But while Campbell exhibits the qualities of the best defensive players in the NFL — physical gifts, work ethic and relentlessness — it’s his dedication to the little things that many people around him believe sets him apart. From the film room to the practice field to game days, he wants to be a leader and it isn’t just lip service.
Work starts behind the scenes
Throughout the 2023 season, Bala said Campbell visited his office every day at lunch for a 30-minute film session, which was not mandatory. Campbell wanted to spend extra time with his position coach to improve his football IQ.
At the beginning of each week, Bala and Campbell would watch film of Alabama‘s next opponent and review the game plan. Then, Bala would break down Campbell’s individual plays from the previous week, point out his mistakes and make corrections.
“He was scratching the surface of what he could be at that point in his career,” Bala said. “And from the way he approached it, he was really trying to be a student of the game.”
A five-star recruit, Campbell played his senior season at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, after spending his first three years at Timber Creek High School in Sicklerville.
Campbell, whom Alabama recruited as a pass rusher, moved from edge rusher to off-ball linebacker during his freshman season (2022) and has spent the last two years splitting time between those two positions, with most of his snaps at off-ball linebacker.
He unlocked his first-round talent once he mastered the mental side of the game.
Bala taught Campbell how to diagnose plays from a pre-snap alignment, which helped him make fewer errors. Campbell finished the 2023 season with 66 total tackles, a half of a sack and one interception, and his production surged under Alabama‘s new coaching staff last year: 117 total tackles, five sacks and one interception.
“He put in the time to learn the (linebacker) position and to be better at it,” Bala said. “And you saw it in his evolution of becoming this athletic freak show.”
‘It was a beautiful thing’
Campbell has been a positive influence on his teammates throughout his football career.
During his final season (2020) at Timber Creek, Campbell went to the football field on his off days to perfect his craft through different drills, first doing it alone before convincing his teammates to join him.
“It was no longer just Jihaad out there,” Timber Creek head coach Brian Wright told NJ Advance Media . “There were a handful of guys. And before you know it, it was our whole defensive line. Other guys are asking, ‘Hey, coach. Can we get some work?’
“It was contagious. As a coach, that‘s a beautiful thing. When your best player is the best leader you have on the team, you’re going to be okay.”
Campbell transferred to IMG Academy before his senior season to face better competition in a tougher environment.
He embraced IMG’s intense practices, pushed through exhaustion on hot days, and uplifted his tired teammates. Campbell even engaged in fierce one-on-one battles with offensive guard Tyler Booker, who became his teammate at Alabama and was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the first round of this year’s draft.
“You could feel the field pulling him out there. He wanted to get to work, ” IMG Academy’s Director of Football Kyle Brey told NJ Advance Media.
Campbell quickly turned into one of their top leaders, earning the respect of his former Alabama teammates, including Tampa Bay Buccaneers edge rusher Chris Braswell, who said he bonded with Campbell over their Islamic faith, which incorporates a disciplined lifestyle.
Any time Campbell saw his college teammates slacking, he was the first one to call them out.
“Even as a freshman, he would still get on guys for BS’ing and not doing what they were supposed to do,” Braswell told NJ Advance Media this week. “During his sophomore year, he took a big leap and started to become a vocal leader on the defense. As the middle linebacker, you got to be the quarterback of the defense. So, he stepped up.”
Braswell and other Alabama players never questioned Campbell’s authority because his practice habits, training regimen and studying routine were consistent and authentic.
During his first spring scrimmage at Alabama, Bala‘s appreciation for Campbell grew when his star linebacker sprinted 50 yards to catch a running back from behind to prevent a touchdown.
Now, Bala tells stories about Campbell in his recruiting meetings to inspire future Florida players to give the same level of effort.
“I really appreciate my one year with him,” Bala said. “As short-lived as it was, he’ll be a guy that I remember for the rest of my life. I’ll always be searching for the next Jihaad Campbell.”
Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell (11) sets up at the line against South Carolina during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)AP
‘You need to ID him’
Campbell has been pro-ready from a physical standpoint since his freshman season at Alabama, but now he has the football acumen to match.
Over the next few months, he will need to learn Philadelphia‘s defensive playbook without being able to practice.
When he was last sidelined with an injury, Campbell formed a connection with Bala that was critical for his development. Now, he’ll likely meet with Eagles linebackers coach Bobby King and defensive ends coach Jeremiah Washburn Jr. to learn the complexities of a new scheme.
“I mean, it’s tough,” Campbell said during his introductory press conference about battling injuries throughout his career. “You’ve got a lot of critics, a lot of people that don’t see that process.”
Every time Eagles general manager Howie Roseman has discussed Campbell’s potential role, he has brought up that Campbell can rush, drop back in coverage and play sideline-to-sideline against the run.
Braswell said Campbell has the “same type of twitch” as Cowboys All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons. Ultimately, he believes the Eagles will use Campbell like Parsons — a primary pass rusher who can cover.
“The creativity (he) brings to the defense puts a lot of pressure on the offense,” Bala said. “You need to ID him in the front and you need to ID him as an off-ball linebacker. That‘s going to create issues in the protection. It’s going to create matchup issues.
“Is he too quick for a tackle? Is he too powerful for a back? Schematically and from a matchup standpoint, he’s a good chess piece to use.”
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