Jihaad Campbell embracing being an 'all-around player' during key stretch

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The Alabama defense has made significant strides over the course of the 2024 season, evolving into one of the best-playing units in the country here in late November. One of the strongest catalysts for the Crimson Tide’s increased level of play has been linebacker Jihaad Campbell.

Since Alabama’s loss to Vanderbilt, the defense has raised its level of play and execution significantly. In that stretch, so has Campbell. Over the past five games, Campbell has totaled 43 tackles, 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Every single one of those stats either leads the team, or is tied for the team lead.

“It’s great, because I’m back there at safety I can see everything Jihaad’s doing,” Alabama safety Malachi Moore said. “Just to see him tracking people from sideline to sideline, flying around to the ball, making plays and value for himself and the team is great. That’s just how he comes to work every day. … He kind of influences all the guys around him to work hard as well.”

Campbell started the season at inside linebacker, but has been moved around and utilized in different spots throughout the season. With the injury to Que Robinson at wolf linebacker and the suspension of Keanu Koht, the room of edge rushers has been thinned out. That’s allowed defensive coordinator Kane Wommack to play Campbell off the edge some, where he played in high school.

“I would say, from the other side, Jihaad Campbell and what he does from a pass rush standpoint — we put him at the defensive end position the other day, he goes in and gets the only sack that we came up with the day,” Wommack said. “So those are the things that we’ve got to continue to utilize our personnel. Because, quite honestly, just like everybody in the country, everybody’s a little more thin at the end of the season. And so you gotta find creative ways to get your personnel in position to maximize value for your defense.”

Campbell has embraced being moved around and utilized in different areas, knowing he has an extremely versatile game that can be showcased.

“I enjoy it. I think that I’m an all-around player, a playmaker that can do a lot of great things,” Campbell said. “I gotta give all thanks to my coaches and my teammates that allow me to do that. Which means everybody doing their 1/11th, everybody doing their job. So whether I’m making a play or somebody else is making a play we’re all executing, and making production for ourselves.”

In addition to his raised level of play on the field, Campbell has by multiple accounts grown as a leader throughout the season as well.

Last week, players and coaches discussed how Campbell spoke to the team, emphasizing how they all have the same goal of winning an SEC and a national championship, and how everyone on the team is there for a reason. The message kept the team locked in against a lesser opponent in Mercer, and the team executed to the tune of a 52-7 win.

Moore, a team captain, spoke about how he specifically has seen Campbell grow vocally during his incredible stretch of high-level play.

“He’s been more vocal. He’s always been a vocal guy, but I would say just being even more vocal,” Moore said. “We challenged a lot of people on the team to step up as leaders, we don’t just need the leadership council or the captains to be leaders. For us to be a great team everybody on the team can lead in their own way, I think that’s one thing we’ve been doing a great job of as a whole team. Everybody’s speaking up and having a voice when they see something out of place or not up to the standard.”

Campbell as emerged as both one of the most versatile and one of the best overall players on this time over the past month, and if he keeps playing at this level, there’s no limiting what this Crimson Tide defense can continue to do.