‘This is vital’: Iowa Hawkeyes LB Jack Campbell imparting importance of summer work
Star middle linebacker Jack Campbell is back to guide what is arguably Iowa’s most talented position group. The 6-foot-5, 243 pound senior out of Cedar Falls, Iowa, led the nation in tackles last season with 143.
As a result, he’s deservedly been on the receiving end of all sorts of preseason love. Phil Steele and Athlon Sports both like Campbell to repeat as a first-team All-Big Ten selection. In fact, Phil Steele is projecting a first-team All-American season for Campbell.
Campbell has been named to the Lott IMPACT Trophy watchlist alongside cornerback Riley Moss and ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has Campbell ranked as his No. 2 inside linebacker on his most recent 2023 NFL draft big board.
Campbell is joined by a talented pair of linebackers in Seth Benson and Jestin Jacobs. Benson registered 105 tackles last season and Jacobs added 53.
After missing the spring to rehab his knee, Campbell is back, feeling great and ready to lead the Hawkeyes’ defense once more in 2022. He met with Hawk Central and the Iowa media to discuss why this time of year is so important, what he’s sharing with the Hawkeyes’ new defensive faces and his expectations for 2022.
Back and healthy
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Let’s get this out of the way right off the top. Campbell reports that he’s back and feeling healthy after receiving some work on and rehabbing one of his knees this spring.
“I feel fantastic. A knee, I got a knee fixed,” Campbell said to reporters.
Admittedly, it drove him a little crazy to not be out there taking part in on-field work throughout the spring.
“I mean, no, it was tough. Obviously, every competitor is going to want to be out there, but just kind of talking with the training staff and coach Ferentz, we thought it would be the best option to get this fully healed, get me ready to go 100 percent and just don’t look back. Yeah, I’m back. Any other questions you have on that, coach Ferentz will address those, but, yeah, I feel great,” Campbell said.
How did he spend the time away from on-field work?
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While it might have given Campbell some cabin fever, he made sure his spring spent rehabbing was a productive one.
“I mean, yeah, I wish I could have worked every single day in the spring, but just due to the fact of just trying to get some things healed up and fixed up, that wasn’t an option. For me personally, you can’t take a day for granted. Just worked my butt off in the film room and also just talking to other linebackers about football stuff. Just doing all the things off the field I could to make an impact, but, ultimately, I’m here now, I feel great, so I’m ready to go,” Campbell said.
It’s no surprise to hear that Campbell stayed busy in the film room. Players don’t rack up 143 tackles by accident. So, what did he see on the tape?
“It’s kind of difficult to explain to everyone. Once you get older, you can just start noticing little things that you wouldn’t notice as a freshman. Just like maybe eyes of a guy, the way a guy gets out of his stance, the way a guy leans in his stance, the splits of a receiver, splits of a tight end. What’s the situation? The down, the distance, stuff like that,” Campbell said.
What he liked on film
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For Campbell, what he liked when he went back through to review his 2021 season, it really wasn’t anything individually.
“You start with the team, we had a 10-win season. That was awesome, but obviously we did fall—like, our whole team goal was to get to Indianapolis and win it and then be able to move on from there—so, obviously, we failed there. Just self reflection, I’m just proud of all the guys that came together, fought. A lot of great seniors that have moved on in their careers. I really like the resiliency of the team last year. We’re going to carry that through into this year as well,” Campbell said.
'Being the best Jack Campbell'
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Again, the time away in the spring allowed for plenty of self evaluation and self reflection. Campbell shared what his focus is on heading into 2022.
“I mean, as I reevaluated myself after this season, I’m never going to be satisfied with any single play. You can always get better at everything, so that’s just kind of the mindset I’ve taken into this summer is just continuing to improve on every facet of my game. So, basically, to just kind of go from there—I know it’s kind of a generic answer—but that’s what I’m working on. Just being the best Jack Campbell I can be,” Campbell said.
Impressions on the incoming freshmen
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Iowa signed a pair of three-star linebackers in its 2022 class according to 247Sports, Landyn Van Kekerix of Rock Valley High School and Jayden Montgomery of Bay Port High School.
“It feels good to be back. We got the new guys in, the freshmen. We got that whole class in, so it was good to get to know them guys, get the young guys back, just get together as a group and just get ready to get this thing rolling,” Campbell said.
Campbell also talked about what he’s seen so far from the Hawkeyes’ newcomers at linebacker and defensively.
“Yeah, I mean, recruiting I feel like has changed so much. Obviously, I’m not a recruiter and I have no idea. I kind of just show up to the building and whoever’s here is here, but, I mean, with all due respect to those guys, they worked their butts off, got here. They chose this place for themselves. What I’ve seen is just a lot of guys who are highly motivated, ready to work and are very talented, so I’m just excited to see them continue to develop and turn into what they’re going to turn into,” Campbell said.
Explaining the importance of summer work to newcomers
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As a fourth-year player and a senior, Campbell has been around the block a time or two. He knows that the season will be upon the team quickly and the importance of using each day effectively right now.
“Yeah, this is vital. I mean, it’s going to kind of come with experience and like you do make a mistake in maybe not figuring out how fast the summer goes by and maybe it kind of hits you in the face. When I was a freshman when I came in, I mean, Kristian Welch was here at the time and he kind of let me know how fast it was going to happen.
“If you don’t have the right mindset and the right attitude, it’s going to fly by and you’re not going to even progress. So, the guys right now, we meet every day pretty much except Fridays. And we just try to, I just try to emphasize the point that it’s going to come up fast. It’s a marathon, not a sprint, but, at the same time, you’ve got to just do your best every single day to improve yourself,” Campbell said.
Building relationships with teammates
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To Campbell’s point on the value of this time of year, he noted how it’s really the best chance to get to know your teammates and it starts with collective growth instead of simply individual growth.
“No, I feel like it starts with the team. This is a time where you can really build bonds. I’m in a couple classes, but not everyone’s in a class, so it’s a great time. You get done with workouts and meeting times and stuff like that, we have a little bit of free time.
“You’ve got to get to know the guys in your position group, the guys on your unit, but also the guys on the other side of the ball. I feel like right now is an important time to just build relationships, because everything, I feel like a culture, a team culture is all built up on relationships. And that’s something that coach (Kirk) Ferentz has let us know. I think that’s very important,” Campbell said.
Experience, depth at linebacker
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Campbell knows that he and his position group bring back key experience and production heading into 2022.
“Yeah, no, I’m excited to see, I mean, what we’ve got going on. We’ve got a deep room, a lot of guys that are going to contribute in a lot of ways. I mean, you could even see it last year, all the guys that contributed on special teams, so it should be a good year. Just need to continue to work and stay hungry,” Campbell said.
How Campbell leads
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It’s no secret that Campbell will be one of if not the most important player defensively for the Hawkeyes. That means his teammates, especially younger ones, look to him for leadership. What type of leader is he? How does he lead?
“My whole life has definitely just been by example. As a fourth-year senior, I’m kind of trying to step into more of a vocal role. I just feel like actions speak louder than words. Everyone has their own leadership style, but, at the end of the day, if you’re not getting your job done, I’m going to let you know. Everything else, I’m just going to try to live what it means to be a Hawkeye every single day,” Campbell said.
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