Tag: nfl draft

LB Jack Campbell, Lions’ first-round pick, brings ‘mutt mentality’ from Iowa

ALLEN PARK — When Iowan Jack Campbell is off the field he’s all about family, God and hunting. He doesn’t participate on social media because he’d rather spend time talking to friends and family rather than on the phone.

Who is this guy?

On the football field he’s considered one of the top linebackers to ever come from Iowa and impressed the Lions enough that they selected him with the 18th overall pick in the draft on Thursday night.

“I’m a Midwestern kid who I feel like up to this point has kind of earned everything I’ve gotten,’’ Campbell said at a press conference on Friday. “I feel I have an old school, blue-collar mindset and I feel like that’s made me .. what they like about me and I feel that’s a perfect fit for Detroit. People in the city work for everything they get, never complain, never point fingers and that’s who I am and I feel like I couldn’t be in a better city that represents them. I’m excited to get started with this.’’

In many mock drafts, Campbell was projected as a late first-round or early second-round pick but the Lions were thrilled to take him at 18.

“What I did tell people in the NFL as they came through, is that one thing I can feel confident in saying is whoever drafts him is not going to let him leave the building over the next 10 years,’’ Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz said on a Zoom call Friday. “It’s one thing to get a really good football player, it’s another thing to get a guy who really adds value in so many other areas, I think that’s what Jack does, it’s just how he’s wired. To me that’s the bonus.’’

Campbell joins a linebacker room that includes Alex Anzalone, James Houston, Malcolm Rodriguez, Julian Okwara and Derrick Barnes. He said some of then have already reached out to him.

The 6-foot-5 linebacker lined up mostly inside at Iowa, but his versatility was another factor that attracted the Lions.

“I can tell you at our place, I’ve told people if we had five Jack Campbells all five would be starting. Two would’ve been our defensive ends and the other three would be linebackers,’’ Ferentz said. “He could’ve played any of the positions in our defense.’’

Last year Campbell was honored with the Butkus Award (nation’s top linebacker); William V. Campbell Trophy (best combination of academics, community service, and on-field performance); Nagurski–Woodson Defensive Player of the Year (Big Ten’s top defensive player) and was a two-time first-team All-Big Ten in 2021 and 2022.

While he seems straightforward and polite behind a podium, his mentality changes on the field.

“As soon as I step on the field I’m trying to put my teammates in the best position I can be, they can be in and I can be in. Whatever it takes to be as vocal as I’ve got to be, always having positive body language and always giving great effort but those are non-negotiables at the linebacker position,’’ Campbell said. “As soon as I step foot on the field nothing is more important than winning. Nothing is more important than going out there putting Jack Campbell’s best foot forward and also putting the linebackers’ best foot forward, pushing that room and getting pushed by those guys.’’

At first glance, he seems genuine and he doesn’t plan to alter that just because he is playing in the NFL.

“I’m going to come in with an attitude, I’m not going to change who I am. I’m going to stay true to myself as Jack Campbell and what worked at Iowa is how I’m going to carry myself here,’’ Campbell said. “All the linebackers at Iowa, our mentality was the mutt mentality. (Like) the mutt that all the little kids walked past because they wanted the new purebred puppies. That’s how I’m going to carry myself here.’’

Playing in the NFL was a childhood dream for Campbell who is trying to soak it all in since he got the phone call from GM Brad Holmes on Thursday night. He was at home in Cedar Falls, Iowa, with his family. Many of them joined him on his visit to Detroit on Friday.

Ferentz admits he’s “extremely biased” when it comes to Campbell who grew up about 90 miles from Iowa’s campus. The Iowa coach had his eye on him since 10th grade.

“My suspicion was that a smart team might jump there in the first round and grab him. … If you can get a guy like that I think you’re getting real value there and you’ve got to be thinking big picture, long game as well as short term,’’ Ferentz said. “To me, it’s a win-win.”

Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs welcomed to Detroit; says his versatility is key

ALLEN PARK — Jahmyr Gibbs was welcomed to Detroit by a couple of Hall of Famers, Barry Sanders and Calvin Johnson.

Gibbs, the Detroit Lions first pick in the draft at 12th overall, was flown to Detroit on Friday to get a look at his new home.

Quiet and understated, he stood at the podium and fielded questions with short answers.

Again he said he was shocked that he was drafted at 12th, because he’s a running back he expected to go later. But, said he’s happy to become a Lion and thinks he’ll be a good fit.

“I can see myself making plays,’’ Gibbs said.

He’ll join David Montgomery and D’Andre Swift in the running backs room. Gibbs is a plug-and-play back who is expected to have an immediate impact. Lions GM Brad Holmes said Swift is still on the roster although there has been speculation about a possible trade.

Gibbs noted his versatility with the ability to catch passes and return kicks.

Last season at Alabama he carried 151 times for 926 yards (6.1 yards per carry) and seven rushing touchdowns. He also caught 44 passes for 444 yards and three passing TDs. He was a transfer from Georgia Tech where he played his first two college seasons.

Gibbs grew up in Dalton, Ga., and was raised by a single grandmother. At one point in 2010 they were living in a shelter. It was a tough life at times, he often would stay at the homes of high school teammates. It’s been a long and winding road to Detroit.

When asked about his early struggles, Gibbs said, “I would say I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Detroit Lions draft RB Jahmyr Gibbs and LB Jack Campbell in 1st round

ALLEN PARK — Running back Jahmyr Gibbs is headed to Detroit after being selected by the Lions with the 12th overall pick in the NFL draft on Thursday night in Kansas City. With the 18th pick, the Lions bolstered the defense drafting linebacker Jack Campbell.

“We couldn’t be more excited with two impact players on both sides of the ball,” Lions GM Brad Holmes said following the first round. “… We find players that fit us and what we’re about. That talent is one thing, but these players fit us.”

After cornerback Devon Witherspoon was selected in the fifth spot by Seattle, the Lions made a trade with Arizona giving them the sixth and 81st picks in return for the 12th, 34th and 168th picks. Witherspoon was speculated as a possible pick for the Lions with the sixth pick in several mock drafts.

Gibbs, who is 5-foot-9 and 199 pounds, played at Alabama and is expected to be a good fit with veteran running back David Montgomery who was signed as a free agent. Jamaal Williams signed with the Saints.

Gibbs said he didn’t expect to get drafted as high because typically running backs have fallen in recent drafts. He was expecting to drop to the 20s. He’s the highest running back pick for Detroit since Barry Sanders in 1989.

“It was pretty shocking to me, but I’m thankful for the city of Detroit,” Gibbs said in a Zoom interview from Kansas City. “I think it’s a great fit for me.”

Gibbs played with Lions’ wide receiver Jameson Williams at Alabama. “We can both make explosive plays in the pass game and the run game, for sure,” Gibbs said.

Lions running backs coach Scottie Montgomery called Gibbs “a fantastic young man” and repeatedly said he liked his character. He also said Gibbs was the best space player in the draft.

“He not only checks all the boxes, he’s been phenomenal throughout the process,” Montgomery said. He also noted that Gibbs has been coached really well at Alabama.

Gibbs ran a 4.36 in  the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine.

Campbell, who is 6-foot-5 and 249 pounds, played at Iowa. He had a formal interview with the Lions at the NFL Combine and was impressed with them especially coach Dan Campbell. The admiration was mutual.

“I’m excited to step foot in there and be the best version of Jack Campbell I can be every single day,” Jack Campbell said in a Zoom interview on Thursday night from his home in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

“I just feel I’m going to bring Jack Campbell. … I’m a humble guy, ready to learn,” Campbell added.”I’m super appreciative for the opportunity.”

“It’s only about football (in Detroit) and football is all that matters,” said Jack Campbell sounding very much like Dan Campbell.

Lions linebackers coach Kelvin Sheppard said that Jack Campbell’s passion makes him an obvious fit for the Lions and the culture coach Dan Campbell has created.

“The athlete, I think everybody sees that … it speaks for itself, it’s exceptional what this player can do at his size,” Sheppard said. “But for me it’s really the thing that jumps him above come other guys is his passion for the game. The way it drives him –  he sees it, he speaks it, he lives it. He’s not one of these guys when things are good he’s up, he’s up all of the time because he loves it.”

That passion is a key ingredient for anyone on Dan Campbell’s roster.

“He is a Detroit guy. He is a Dan Campbell guy. He’s a culture fit immediately,” Sheppard said of Jack Campbell who was a captain at Iowa.

Like the other linebackers, Campbell will cross-train at all three positions.

“We were very high on this guy, as a position coach, as well as the total defense,” Sheppard said.

It’s unusual in recent drafts to select a running back — and even a linebacker — so early in the first round. Any criticism rolls off Holmes’ shoulders.

“Frankly, we don’t care. We feel really confident about the work we put in and what those guys are going to do on the field. And I’m not saying in two years, three years. We believe these guys are ready to go right now,” Holmes said.

After the trade of the sixth pick, the Lions have five picks (12th, 18th, 34th, 48th and 55th)  in the top 55.  They have three picks in the second round on Friday and, at this point, have none in the third. Friday’s action starts at 7 p.m.