Practice has been over for 20 minutes and Jihaad Campbell is doing his thing with the military members in attendance on this Saturday at the NovaCare Complex. Pictures, autographs, laugher and chatter with those who have served our country and who love the Philadelphia Eagles and who know Campbell's story.
He is the first-round draft pick, a South Jersey kid at home to play with the team he grew up loving and, really, the setting for a story for the ages is right there. An enormously talented player at the University of Alabama, Campbell was projected to be a top 15 draft pick in April. But he lasted through the teens and when he was still there in the 20s, the Eagles took interest and eventually traded up to No. 31 to bring to Philadelphia.
A happy homecoming.
"Back at home, back with the Birds, wow, my dream NFL team, it's amazing. It's a beautiful feeling," said Campbell, walking with a large mango Rita's water ice on the way to the locker room. "Look, I know I have a lot of work here. I am not where I want to be as a player. It's a challenge and I love it. I keep positive people around me. Resourceful people around me. People who can help me and pave the way for me, that's what I'm about during this journey. I'm where my feet are, not looking ahead.
"I respect everything about the NFL and what it takes to be great. And I want to be great. Being home and having that support means everything for me. My 'why' is my family and the younger me. I always wanted to be in this position and now that I'm here, hey, I'm going to make the most of it. I'm all for the work. Lot of freakin' work to be done and I embrace that."
This is the very early version of Campbell, who missed the spring practices on the field as he recovered from a shoulder injury suffered at Alabama. The Eagles knew all about the injury – one that probably knocked Campbell down in the first round – but they had full confidence based on their medical team that Campbell would be on the correct path to return to football sooner rather than later.
And he's done that. Campbell has been able to take part in each day of practice in a limited fashion, displaying his athleticism and his instincts and, every bit as important, his comfort level in the defense having dug into the playbook throughout the spring.
The kid put in the mental work. He is seeing how that has paid off. He "practiced like a pro, mentally," he said, and that has translated into his play on the field. Campbell has a super-high ceiling and that is all well and good, but right now he is in the "process." This isn't going to come overnight and he is good with that.
"I've been injured before and that is part of the game," he said. "You have to trust the people around you that they are doing what is best for you and your game. I know that. I just think that if I can keep focused on what I need to do and fulfil that responsibility, things are going to be just fine."
How much can Campbell help the Eagles in his rookie season? That remains to be seen. He is obviously a great talent, but he's also a rookie on a defense that has depth and talent across the board. Campbell has been taking reps as an inside linebacker for now, a role that could expand to see if he can help off the edge as a pass rusher.
The Eagles aren't rushing a thing. They aren't pushing him out there before he's ready. They want to see him develop by stacking great days together and expanding his versatility.
"It's been great to be an Eagle, a good start to my career here," Campbell said. "It feels great to be on the field and showing what I can do. All the work you put in, you get out on the other side. So that's where I'm at. Where my feet are. Loving going through this process and learning every day."
Having Campbell on the field and upping his game is the big story here. There are going to be plenty of challenges ahead and, no doubt, that is just part of the NFL. You learn and you grow and you move forward and you see how it all adds up.
For Campbell, being an Eagle is what he hoped it would be to this point, with a lot more to go.
"This is just the beginning," he said. "Enjoying it. Big time. Let's go."
