By DARREN MILLER
hawkeyesports.com
IOWA CITY, Iowa —His feet are wet, now it is Jack Campbell’s time to cement his role among University of Iowa linebackers.
Campbell used his true freshman season in 2019 to gain experience after seeing action in 11 games. Because of an injury to leading tackler Kristian Welch, he even made a start at middle linebacker against Wisconsin. Spot starts are probably a thing of the past for the 6-foot-5, 243-pounder from Cedar Falls, Iowa.
“I’m a little taller and heavier than a typical linebacker,” Campbell said. “I cover ground well, but at the end of the day, it’s how much effort I give and my attitude coming into the building every day. I feel I do a good job coming in with a great attitude and giving my full effort. That shows on the field.”
Campbell finished his first season as a Hawkeye with five tackles. He will be counted on to be more productive this fall, especially with the void created by the transfer of Dillon Doyle, who made two starts in the middle, and Djimon Colbert, who has 23 career starts at weakside linebacker. Colbert opted out because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“Their departure is a big loss, but we are always preparing to be in there,” Campbell said. “We have to keep taking steps and improve every day.”
Growing up in “another” Iowa college town, Campbell became a fan of the Northern Iowa football team. When the Panthers played Iowa, he was mesmerized by the play of Hawkeye linebacker Christian Kirksey, now with the Green Bay Packers. Kirksey is on a long list of Iowa linebackers Campbell enjoys watching on film.
“You can’t really name one,” Campbell said of his favorite Iowa linebacker. “You have to look at Pat Angerer, A.J. Edds, Josey Jewell, Anthony Hitchens, the list can go on. Abdul Hodge, Chad Greenway. I can’t pick one. Those are all guys you can watch tape on, and it blows my mind the plays they made.”
