During the Philadelphia Eagles’ mandatory minicamp, All-Pro linebacker Zack Baun made headlines with his glowing praise for rookie Jihaad Campbell, a former Alabama standout. Despite spending only a few weeks alongside the young linebacker, Baun was quick to draw a striking comparison, seeing shades of his own early NFL career in Campbell’s versatile skill set.
“He’s a big dude,” Baun told reporters. “Similar to myself, a versatile guy who can do a lot of different things. Just starting to see him move around a little bit — the dude can move. And he’s impressively really smart on the board as well. So, I’m really excited for him.”
For a seasoned veteran like Baun to liken a rookie to himself is no small feat, signaling that Campbell is already turning heads in the Eagles’ locker room. Even with limited practice time due to a shoulder injury, the rookie has clearly earned the respect of his teammates.
Campbell’s standout 2024 season at Alabama helps explain the hype. The 6-foot-2, 235-pound linebacker was a force for the Crimson Tide, leading the team with 117 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, two forced fumbles, and an interception. His dominant performance earned him first-team All-SEC honors and semifinalist nominations for both the Bednarik and Butkus Awards.
Coming into the 2025 NFL Draft with top-20 buzz, Campbell was selected by the Eagles at No. 31 after the team traded up to secure him—a move many now view as one of the draft’s biggest steals. As the Eagles prepare for their season opener against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday Night Football in Week 1, the hope is that Campbell can recover quickly from his injury and make an immediate impact on the field.
With Baun’s bold comparison and Campbell’s proven talent, all eyes will be on the rookie to see if he can live up to the lofty expectations in Philadelphia.