DJ Campbell, IOL, Texas
Size:
Height: 6’3” | Weight: 330 lbs
Accomplishments:
Joe Moore Award semifinalist (2023) • Five-star recruit
“DJ Campbell is an overwhelming physical guard whose thick frame and natural anchor give him a high floor as a prospect.”
Strengths:
Play strength
Scheme-versatile
Frame
Stunt ID
Concerns:
Relies on natural gifts
Heavy feet
Hand location/use
Film Analysis:
DJ Campbell started 14 games as a sophomore at right guard for Texas and helped clear the way for one of the best running backs in the country on his way to being a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award. It was an impressive campaign for the sophomore who bullied defensive tackles and blitzing linebackers with his raw strength. His background as a basketball player shows up as a pass protector and gives him an attainable upside.
Campbell is an imposing player whose natural gifts take over at the snap as he looks to create vertical displacement in the run game. His 6-foot-3 frame gives him good pad level when making contact and he makes a conscious effort to create running lanes for backs, sealing off angles for defenders. He’s scheme-versatile with a good understanding of doubles, down blocks, zone concepts, and getting to the second level. As a pass protector, he has a naturally low center of gravity that allows him to absorb power and anchor well against stunters or blitzes, and his active eyes make it easy to locate them as well.
He has heavy feet out of the snap and on the move, though he’s still an average pulling guard despite that. He attempts to compensate for slow foot speed by lunging out at defenders; quicker athletes can defeat that quickly to make a play on the ball-carrier. Campbell knows he possesses many natural gifts and falls on them too often instead of trying to use better technique to stall rushers or displace defensive tackles in the run game. Improved hand location and timing will lead to a big jump in effectiveness for Campbell as he looks to improve in his junior season.
Campbell is a talented and powerful guard with NFL frame, size, and strength, but he needs to improve technically to take that next step and impress NFL scouts.
Prospect Projection: Day 2 — Adequate Starter
Written By: Daniel Harms
