Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell does not factor into the Bucs’ current season. The 2024 season is not over, and the Bucs are in the thick of a playoff and divisional title race. If the thought of looking ahead to 2025 irks you, please back out of this page now.

But if you can simultaneously appreciate the thrill of meaningful December/January football while also getting excited for the promise of building on an already strong roster…then welcome!

The Bucs currently have several areas of their roster that could use some bolstering in the offseason. It’s not far-fetched to think inside linebacker will be one specific area they are hoping to build out.

Bucs ILB Lavonte David – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

This year’s linebacking corps has relied heavily on future Ring of Honor inductee Lavonte David. David, for his part has played well considering the fact that he turns 35 in a few weeks, but is also starting to show signs of age-related decline. He also is not under contract for 2025 and could very well retire after this year.

Fellow starter K.J. Britt is also a free agent after this year and is not a lock to be a priority for the team to re-sign. The Bucs had hopes that 2023 fifth-round pick SirVocea Dennis could provide meaningful snaps as a late-down pass defense specialist. But an early season injury that put him on injured reserve all season has left his future as a centerpiece for the defense in doubt.

Between Dennis’ lack of playing time and overall injury concerns the team cannot count on him to be “the” answer at linebacker next year. He could be a part of a group of “possible” answers. But he is far from a lock to be a starter.

The Bucs were reluctant to turn to former undrafted free agent J.J. Russell despite Britt’s struggles throughout the season. He is coming off of a truly awesome game against the Chargers, but inconsistency, limited athleticism and a lack of trust means Tampa Bay most likely does not see him as a key piece of the future.

The draft is a likely source of new talent for this position group. Enter Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell.

Alabama ILB Jihaad Campbell – 6-3 • 244

By The Numbers

Alabama ILB Jihaad Campbell – Photo by: USA Today

Jihaad Campbell is a 1.5-year starter in the SEC against some of the top competition in college. He was Alabama’s leading tackler this season with 83 solo tackles and 19 assisted tackles according to Pro Football Focus. What is most impressive about the junior is when you look at the lack of missed tackles. He had just six missed tackles in 2024 to match his six from the year prior.

With his increase in volume, he lowered his impressive 8.45% missed tackle rate in 2023 to an even more diabolical 5.56% this year. Campbell was also able to almost double his stop rate from 10.55% to 18.69% this year. He had two forced fumbles this year and 17 pressures, including seven sacks, as a pass rusher on just 94 pass rush reps. That was good enough for an 18.09% pressure rate.

In coverage he allowed 24 catches for 170 yards on 30 targets over 320 coverage reps. That works out to an 80% catch rate, 7.1 yards per catch and 0.53 yards per coverage rep. Campbell added an interception and two pass breakups to his tally as well. Hudl has him credited with a total of 26 impact plays, which are plays that stand out as a solo tackle, pressure, pass breakup, run disruption or was targeted on an unsuccessful play.

Campbell’s Pro Football Focus profile shows him to be a jack-of-all-trades, master of none. He does not grade above an 80.0 in any single facet of the game, but he scores consistently above average in the mid-to-high 70’s as a run defender, pass rusher as well as in coverage. Playing for a pro-like program in Alabama also means that he had more responsibilities than the average college linebacker and his transition to the pros will most likely have less of a learning curve.

Campbell on Tape

Watching Jihaad Campbell, I feel there is one area of his game that jumps out more than others. He has the most advanced feel as a pass rusher. And this extends further than him coming late as an add-on rusher, or as a mugged-up ‘backer on a pressure scheme. Alabama used him as a true edge on a handful of plays this year and they were some of his best reps.

I am fully on the Jihaad Campbell to edge train

Look at that bend… https://t.co/bQYSC2OrSR pic.twitter.com/j76CratBBo

— Hail Mary Sports (@hailmarysportss) December 17, 2024

His length and size are small for a typical edge, but as the NFL has looked for more explosive athletes to play one of the most important positions on the field, they have found roles for players of Campbell’s size. Furthermore, I almost get the feeling he prefers to be a pass rusher more than an off-ball ‘backer.

When he drops into shallow zones, he does a good job to keep his eyes in the backfield, but at the first sign of the quarterback breaking the pocket, Campbell is looking to close and get to the passer. The positive here is that he has several impressive plays at or behind the line of scrimmage on second-reaction efforts. But the flip side to that coin is he can also leave his coverage responsibility open for a big play the other way.

Rush Skills

As a true edge rusher, Jihaad Campbell has the burst off the line and bend to win the arc. In his limited reps he has flashed both a long arm on the outside as well as a spin move as an inside counter. The spin needs work as he has mostly been caught on it and thrown to the ground, but the base is there for refinement.

His overall athleticism allows him to change directions mid-rush to try and find a secondary outlet to the quarterback. As a stand-up rusher from the interior, Cambell combines quick burst with enough shoulder movement to slide by linemen adeptly.

Tackling/Run Defense

Alabama ILB Jihaad Campbell – Photo by: USA Today

As a stack and shed linebacker, he has the size to take on climbing tight ends and linemen without getting overwhelmed and can slip by anyone who isn’t technically sound when targeting him. But in total I didn’t see him working downhill to meet ball carriers in the hole very much. And as a tackler, while he is very sound and technical, wrapping up consistently, he is very rarely popping ball carriers or hitting with authority.

Most of his tackles find Campbell absorbing contact as the ball carrier gains 1-2 additional yards driving through him as he drags them to the ground. Part of the reason for this is that Campbell plays with a high pad level which saps power from what should be a more physical pop when he hits players.

Campbell tends to trigger late and looks to me like more of a read and react run defender with less instincts to help him get to spots before the play gets there. But he does possess sideline-to-sideline speed and rarely overruns plays. Several plays this year a running back tried to catch the edge on Campbell and was unable to do so. This gives him a high floor as he moves to the NFL.

Coverage

While he has proven to be a plus coverage player in college, I worry about those skills translating to the next level. I know a lot of analysts see Jihaad Campbell as a plus athlete. And I thought he was when looking at his 2023 tape, but he looks to have gained some weight and lost some fluidity in space.

I like his ability to diagnose route concepts and not just find his correct zone assignment but also find the right receiver closest to him. It’s the whole “cover players, not grass” mantra that Campbell fully buys into. His goal line pass breakup against LSU was a fantastic diagnose-and-affect-the-play rep.

This will be the area that gives teams the most hope for him as an NFL linebacker in a league that is short on good coverage players.

Bucs Outlook

Bucs ILB SirVocea Dennis and HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Jihaad Campbell is considered one of the better linebacker prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft due primarily to his overall athleticism. I came away underwhelmed overall. I do think he would provide a decent floor and an improved level of speed and dropping ability than what the Bucs currently possess.

And there is a decent amount of scheme fit with Bucs head coach Todd Bowles’ system. Campbell could thrive in mugged-up looks as well as a rotational edge in sub packages. But he isn’t someone I would spend a first- or second-round pick on. And I still have reservations as to whether he wouldn’t be best served as a 3-4 outside linebacker than as a true off-ball linebacker.