What Nick Saban said about 2025 first-rounders Tyler Booker, Jihaad Campbell
Two Alabama players were selected in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft on Thursday.
Offensive guard Tyler Booker was the first player off the board to the Dallas Cowboys with the No. 12 overall pick, and the Philadelphia Eagles traded up one spot to take linebacker Jihaad Campbell with the No. 31 choice. Their selections increased former Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban’s total number of first-round picks in Tuscaloosa to 49 players.
Saban, who retired in January of 2024, was in Green Bay as part of the ABC broadcast of the 2025 NFL Draft, and he shared his thoughts on his former players after commissioner Roger Goodell announced their names to the crowd of 205,000 and the millions watching.
Booker played in 38 career games over the last three seasons, including 27 starts, and spent two years under Saban before the latter’s retirement. Coming off the board first at pick No. 12, the former Alabama head coach showered the two-year Tide starters with praise.
“This guy is a fantastic young man,” said Saban of Booker on the ABC broadcast. “I mean, smart – and you talk about a good leader. Very physical, very tough. Gets movement in the run. That’s why people like him so much. This guy’s got tremendous muscle mass, aight, which I think is very important to being a power player in the NFL.”
Campbell appeared in 35 games and 21 starts over his 3-year career at Alabama, and like his offensive line counterpart, played for Saban for two seasons. A versatile defender throughout his time in Tuscaloosa, Campbell received a rave review from his former coach.
Top 10
- 1New
Shilo Sanders
Lands with NFL team
- 2
Picks by Conference
The final tally in NFL Draft
- 3Trending
Mel Kiper
Eviscerates NFL: 'Clueless'
- 4
D.J. Uiagalelei
Signs NFL free agent deal
- 5Hot
Quinn Ewers drafted
Texas QB off the board
Get the On3 Top 10 to your inbox every morning
By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.
“This guy is a great person,” Saban said of Campbell. “I mean, what people have to understand about Jihaad, he played with his hand in the dirt in high school. Went to IMG, came out, was an outside ‘backer. Moved to inside ‘backer and got better and better and better and, I thought, had a fantastic year this year.
“He has tremendous range, speed. He can play in or out. He never played behind the line before we moved him two years ago because of injuries. But he’s developed into a first-round inside guy. He can be an edge rusher. I just love this pick, I really do.”
Campbell “lit up” at the NFL Scouting Combine before undergoing surgery on his shoulder. The injury concerns are what led to him dropping to the final choices of the first round, according to multiple reports on Thursday. But Saban reinforced why Campbell was a top pick.
“The only reason they’re getting him here is because people had some injury questions because of shoulder surgery, might not be ready for camp,” Saban said. “But if you’re the Philadelphia Eagles, what do you care? You’re gonna pick a guy that’s gonna be there maybe for the next 10 years for you and be a really good player.
“And when he does get healthy, he’s gonna add pass rush for them.”
Not a member, Alabama fans? Join BOL today!
Have you subscribed to BamaOnLine.com yet? You can sign up for ONE MONTH of premium access to our Alabama coverage for just $11.99! Be able to read all of BOL’s premium articles and nuggets covering Alabama sports and recruiting and also join thousands of other Crimson Tide fans around the globe on the BOL Round Table message board! CLICK HERE!
