Jack Campbell discusses increased leadership role

Star linebacker of the Iowa Hawkeyes defense Jack Campbell took some time after practice to answer a few questions about the team’s upcoming season. One thing in particular that the senior discussed is his increased leadership role and his approach to practice and meeting from that standpoint.

“I feel like it all starts with our veteran players, especially in this program at the University of Iowa. It’s all player-led, and it’s all veteran-led,” said Campbell. “For me, my approach to things is that I’m approaching everything like it’s going to be my last. Like this might be my last meeting, so I’m going to go in there and take something new out of it. I might be here for four years; Riley Moss is a fifth-year guy. He might be here for five years, but I feel like he has that same approach. He’s gonna go into a meeting and at least get something out of it.”

Campbell put together a monstrous season in 2021. Over 14 games, he recorded 140 tackles, 57 solo, five pass deflections, a forced fumble, two fumbles recovered, two interceptions, and returned one of them for a touchdown.

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Campbell: ‘We’re not just going to go through the motions’

Iowa started last season on a roll, climbing as high as No.2 ranked in the country. Unfortunately, that high was short-lived. After beating Penn State in a battle of top five teams, the Hawkeyes fell to Purdue the following week. Iowa’s strong start to the season was primarily due to their defense. And if they want another crack at the Big Ten conference championship game, the defense will have to buy into Campbell’s mindset. Something it appears that they are already doing.

“We’re not just going to go through the motions and just twiddle our thumbs in our seats. We want to get something out of meetings, practice, walkthroughs, whatever we can do. I feel like that’s how you’re going to continue to keep pushing this defense over the top. I’ve seen just a lot of growth with the defensive line as well, in that in that same aspect. A lot of fourth and fifth-year guys have that same mindset. Once you get everyone doing that and pushing each other, you’re just going to get more out of each other.”

Despite back-to-back losses in the middle of their season against Purdue and Wisconsin, Iowa made it to the Big Ten championship game against Michigan, ranked No.13. that game finished in a lopsided affair with Iowa losing soundly 42-3.

The Hawkeyes had an impressive defense for much of the 2021 season but needed more contribution from the offensive side of the ball. Campbell and the defense will look to repeat their impressive feats from last year. Still, if the Hawkeyes want to improve from their 2021 performance, the offense will have to buy into Campbell’s mindset as well.