Film Room: Javeon Campbell

Every program in college football is looking for blue-chip recruiting wins on the defensive line. Kentucky is no different. Those can be easier to find when they were born and raised near campus. But you still have to close. For the second cycle in a row, UK has landed a top-250 defensive line prospect from its backyard.

Frankfort (Ky.) Western Hills defensive lineman Javeon Campbell became on Cat on Tuesday.

The path to land Jerod Smith II was different in the 2023 cycle, but that was still a high impact recruitment which required a flip from Michigan. Landing Campbell one cycle later is the same after Vince Marrow recorded a head-to-head win over Alabama to keep the top-200 prospect home.

What will Campbell bring to Anwar Stewart‘s position room? The long-time basketball player brings an explosive skill set on a great frame to the table.

Twitchy get off

Listed at 6-foot-5 and 260 pounds, Javeon Campbell checks the size box immediately. The 2025 prospect owns a good frame projecting as a 4-3 defensive end or a versatile player in an odd front. But the size is nothing if you can’t get out of your stance.

Campbell’s biggest strength is his explosion off the ball.

There will need to be some polish added on keeping bend throughout his engagement with blockers but the twitch stands out immediately. Campbell is a versatile athlete with some explosive movement skills. That gives the defensive line prospect an outstanding foundation as he enters the peak years of his football playing career.

Whether projecting to run fits or pass rush, Campbell’s explosiveness out of his stance should translate and raises his ceiling as a prospect.

Chase and Pursue

Defensive line players in the SEC need to be able to get out of their stance and hold their point. But they also must be able to pursue. Once blocks are beaten, effort level and athleticism are needed to bring down smaller and faster players in space.

Javeon Campbell shows some more athleticism as a pursuit defender.

Campbell owns good foot speed on tape and that leads to some successful plays in the backfield. The defensive line prospect can close ground in a hurry and his reach helps him eliminate space for the quarterback. Once penetration is created, Campbell can finish plays behind the line of scrimmage. The ability to pursue and tackle in space shows up on tape.

Another Blue-Chip Win

Javeon Campbell becomes Kentucky’s third blue-chip high school defensive line recruiting win in the last two cycles joining Brian Robinson and Jerod Smith II. Both 2024 prospects showed explosiveness and the ability to finish plays after beating blocks. Campbell does the same.

There will be some fundamental refinement needed at the next level, but the latest Kentucky commit has the size and frame to play multiple positions for defensive line coach Anwar Stewart. Campbell will need to show that he can hold the point in some of Kentucky’s two-gap run fits, but there is no denying the potential playmaking skill set. Campbell is tall, long, and quick on top of playing mostly with good pad level. All of those traits should translate.

Despite being new to football, Campbell owns translatable athletic traits that immediately showed during his junior season. As his football awareness continues to grow, those raw skills will show up more often. The Kentucky native is a blue-chip recruit because of the athletic profile.

The Wildcats just landed a big recruiting win in the trenches.