‘We all aspire to be like those guys on the wall’: LB Jack Campbell motivated by Hawkeyes’ past
Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell enters the 2022 season with a world of expectations. That’s largely because he was one of the nation’s finest a season ago.
In fact, in total tackles, he was the nation’s finest with 143 in 2021. As a result, the 6-foot-5, 246 pound linebacker from Cedar Falls, Iowa, has been a popular preseason awards list member.
The latest was his inclusion on the Rotary Lombardi Award watch list. That’s just the tip of the iceberg, though.
Campbell is a preseason first-team All-America selection by Phil Steele, and he’s been named to plenty of other watch lists as well. Both Campbell and Riley Moss were named to the Bednarik Awardwatch list, the Nagurski Trophy watch list and the Lott IMPACT Trophy watch list.
Campbell was also named to the Big Ten Preseason Honors List, he was picked as the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year by the Big Ten media, and has found himself as one of the top projected 2023 NFL draft picks at the linebacker position.
Suffice it to say, he should be one of the Big Ten and country’s best in 2022. Where does some of his motivation come from? Those that came before him.
Speaking with HawkeyeNation.com‘s Rob Howe and other Iowa reporters, Jack Campbell discussed how the Hawkeyes’ past influences the present.
“Yeah, when you walk in the building—I was talking about leaving the jersey in a better place—I guess from my freshman year, that’s just always been a dream of mine to be able to wear the No. 31, and then when I’m done, pass that on. That’s all set up by the guys. When I walk into the room, we’ve got a wall and a mural of all the great linebackers that have came before us. When I walk in and see guys like Pat Angerer, Josey Jewell, I mean, Larry Station. That’s going way back. Tippett, stuff like that. I mean, that’s been since, I don’t even know, the 80’s.
“Just how long it’s come up to here. I mean, I wouldn’t say it’s pressure, but, coming in, it’s just nice seeing that there’s been guys ahead of me that have done it. That’s something that I feel like me myself and all the guys in the room, we all aspire to be like those guys on the wall. Just like you said, the tradition in the linebacker room is second to none. Just continuing to uphold that tradition I feel like is on the veteran players and we’ve got to do that and set the example for the young guys, because someday when we’re gone and we’re going on with our work life and we’re old men and we’re terrible at football, these guys have got to uphold the tradition that we’ve set. It’s made a big impact on me.
“Also, seeing the guys come back. I mean, no other team in college football I don’t think can say you have a guy come back from the ’04 team or the ’05 team come in—and they don’t even know me, but they want to sit down and have a conversation. I feel like that’s what makes Iowa special as well. Just being able to see all those great examples that were set before us. Not only in the linebacker room, but all positions is super, super cool,” Campbell said.
Campbell touched on a number of other topics at Iowa Media Day below.
Reaction to Iowa not being ranked in the USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll
Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
“We can’t really look at that right now. And we don’t focus on that really, at all. It’s in the media that gets brought up, but we can only control what we do on the practice field. And I feel like if you get caught by the outside noise, you might be able to fall in the trap and have a downward spin.
“But right now, we are focused on improving every day as a defense and as a team out here on the practice field. And then, as the season progresses, the chips will fall where they’re going to fall. So right now, just having an approach of one-day-at-a-time mentality and not looking too far ahead, because everyone can say that they’re going to be the national champions right now, but we have to go out there and do it,” Campbell said.
If Iowa can wind up as the Big Ten's best linebacking corps
Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK
“Hopefully at the end of the season, we can look back and be like, statistically, or however that gets measured. It’s been awesome to come out on the practice field and be with a fourth-year guy and Jestin Jacobs, and seeing how far he has come. Because I came in with him. So how far me he and him have come together… and then a guy like Seth Benson, he is a year older than us, and being able to go out there and push each other.
“I feel like what it’s all about right now is how hard we can push each other because that is only going to make us better as we get into the season. And then again, we’ll let the chips fall where they are going to fall. I am super excited to be a part of the linebackers and be around those guys every single day. It makes it so fun for me to walk in the building every day and when you’re having fun I feel like that’s brings out the best in everyone,” Campbell said.
What Iowa defense looks like
AP Photo/Matthew Putney
“We’re going to work and try to do our jobs to the best of our ability. When you have 11 guys all playing the same play call and doing that every single snap, I feel like you can be as good as you want to be. So, I would say all of that kind of brings into the Iowa Hawkeye defense. When I think of it, tough, smart, physical, together for the full 60 minutes. I feel like right now on the practice field that’s something we’re trying to develop to get ready for the season,” Campbell said.
From high school hopeful to Iowa Hawkeyes star
Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen, Iowa City Press-Citizen via Imagn Content Services, LLC
“It’s always been a dream of mine to be able to come here and make an impact for the school. But never in my wildest dreams did I think I would have this stage that I have right now. And that’s all thanks to my teammates and coaches, for putting me in this position and showing up with a great attitude and great effort.
“I’m really not that special and people need to realize that I show up hungry to work every single day and no matter if I was on the fifth string or the first string, I would approach everything the same way I do right now. It has been such a blessing for me to be here in Iowa City being close to home, being around my family and my friends. I never would have dreamed of that. I always wanted to be a college football player, but I didn’t know at what level or how good,” Campbell said.
Phil Parker's Iowa Media Day comments
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