Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Zack Baun may have only spent a few weeks alongside rookie Jihaad Campbell, but that short time has been more than enough for Campbell to make a strong impression.
Speaking during mandatory minicamp, Baun didn’t hold back in his praise for the former Alabama standout.
In fact, Baun was so impressed that he drew a personal comparison, saying there were elements of Campbell’s game that reminded him of his own early years in the league.
"He's a big dude," Baun told reporters. "Similar to myself, a versatile guy who can do a lot of different things. Just starting to see him move around a little bit — the dude can move. And he's impressively really smart on the board as well. So, I'm really excited for him."
For an All-Pro veteran to see glimpses of himself in a rookie speaks volumes, and it’s clear Campbell is already earning the respect of those around him in the Eagles' locker room, even after being limited during practice.
That’s really not all that surprising when you consider the kind of season Campbell had at Alabama in 2024.
Campbell was everywhere on the field in his final college season, leading the team with 117 tackles. He also added 11.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, two forced fumbles, and an interception, a stat line that earned him first-team All-SEC honors and semifinalist nods for both the Bednarik and Butkus Awards.
The 6-foot-2 and 235-pound Crimson Tide product entered the draft with top-20 buzz following that breakout year with the Crimson Tide. The Eagles snagged him at No. 31 after trading up, which felt like one of the biggest steals of the night in the end.
The hope now is that Campbell can bounce back quickly from his shoulder injury and be ready to make an immediate impact for the Eagles -- ideally as soon as Week 1, when they open the 2025 NFL season against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday Night Football.
