Social media explodes as Detroit Lions select Jack Campbell at No. 18
From Iowa City to the Motor City for Jack Campbell!
The former Iowa Hawkeyes linebacker, Butkus Award winner and unanimous consensus All-American has a new home with the Detroit Lions. In a move that shocked many draft pundits, the Lions selected Campbell with pick No. 18 in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft.
The move didn’t shock anyone that has spent time really watching what the 6-foot-5, 249 pound linebacker did on a regular basis in Iowa City. The Cedar Falls, Iowa, native ended his Hawkeye career with 305 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and three forced fumbles. Campbell also tallied 15 pass breakups, five interceptions and scored one defensive touchdown in his time with Iowa.
Only hindered because some believe the middle linebacker is a position with decreasing value, Jack Campbell has every single accolade a team could want in its defensive anchor and captain for the next decade. The tape speaks for itself, but the intangibles of Jack Campbell speak louder.
The Lions have a hard-nosed defensive leader that is a match made in heaven to go along with their hard-nosed leader in head coach Dan Campbell. Check out social media erupting as Jack Campbell heard his name called.
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Lions make it official
Jack Campbell is the newest Detroit Lion! pic.twitter.com/6bbj0Gdbcl
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) April 28, 2023
The moment
Adding to the defense 💪
📺: #NFLDraft 4/27-4/29 on NFLN, ABC & ESPN pic.twitter.com/SpJU3gk2LY
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) April 28, 2023
Find a better match
A little ditty, bout jack and daaaaan 🎶 pic.twitter.com/VcYAKsVMG9
— PFT Commenter (@PFTCommenter) April 28, 2023
Dez weighs in!
Congratulations Jack Campbell!
— Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) April 28, 2023
Top LB off the board
The Lions select Iowa LB Jack Campbell 18th overall
92.9 coverage grade last season (1st among LBs) pic.twitter.com/uHNJn1j5Yq
— PFF College (@PFF_College) April 28, 2023
X weighs in
congrats to both y’all boys 🐤 pic.twitter.com/AUZxzhTx08
— Xavier “X” Nwankpa (@xaviernwankpa01) April 28, 2023
Get ready, Detroit!
"He wreaks some havoc."
Jack Campbell is a disruptor headed to Detroit with the 18th overall pick 👏 #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/0vvu2t8TC5
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) April 28, 2023
Easy, Tom!
Iowa has had two of its best offensive players taken in the 1st round tonight: Lukas Van Ness and Jack Campbell.
— Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) April 28, 2023
Some will critique, but select Jack when you can!
The Lions had an interesting first round. According to ESPN Analytics there was a:
🦁 >99% chance Jahmyr Gibbs would've still been available at No. 18
🦁 96% chance Jack Campbell would've still been available at No. 34 pic.twitter.com/ZJpsd9Oxak— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 28, 2023
Big Cat's got jokes
Jack Campbell. Never good when the Coach drafts his son. Lions should’ve listened to someone else in the room. BUST
— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) April 28, 2023
Perfect for each other
Jack Campbell and Dan Campbell are literally perfect for each other
— Lucy Rohden (@lucy_rohden) April 28, 2023
It's truly a Campbell pick
The Lions are taking Iowa LB Jack Campbell.
That's a Dan Campbell pick.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) April 28, 2023
Surprise!
JACK CAMPBELL AT 18!! There’s no way…this draft is nuts
— Braiden Turner (@bturner23) April 28, 2023
Again, can't please everybody
Lions getting 12 at Jahmyr Gibbs and Jack Campbell at 18 is just not it, man
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) April 28, 2023
Two top 20 picks!
LB Jack Campbell to Detroit. That’s two Hawkeyes in the Top 20 from Phil Parker’s defense.
— Matt Bowen (@MattBowen41) April 28, 2023
Highest-drafted Hawkeyes under Ferentz
Highest-drafted Hawkeyes in Ferentz era:
2. OL Robert Gallery, 2004
5. OL Brandon Scherff, 2015
8. TE T.J. Hockenson, 2018
13. DL Lukas Van Ness, 2023
13. OL Tristan Wirfs, 2020
17. LB Chad Greenway, 2006
18. LB Jack Campbell, 2023First time with 2 top-18 picks in same draft.
— Chad Leistikow (@ChadLeistikow) April 28, 2023
Gonna be hard to top
Lions LBs coach Kelvin Sheppard on meeting new LB Jack Campbell: "When he left the room, me, Dan and AG looked at each other like, 'Damn, that's gonna be hard to top.'"
Adds this: "He is a Dan Campbell guy."
— Colton Pouncy (@colton_pouncy) April 28, 2023
Continue to amaze!
Blows my mind what Iowa continues to do with player development.
6 first round picks in last 5 years.
— Chris Hassel (@Hassel_Chris) April 28, 2023
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