Amare Campbell

ILB·Tennessee#179 overall
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Draft Movement

#173 · Jun 8#179 · now

Down 6 spots since Jun 8

Scouting Report

Amare Campbell is a 6'1", 230-pound linebacker from Manassas, Virginia who began his college career at North Carolina before transferring to Penn State in May 2025, and then transferring again to Tennessee in January 2026 to play under defensive coordinator Jim Knowles. A three-star recruit out of Unity Reed High School, Campbell dominated as a senior with 130 tackles, 12.5 sacks, and 30 tackles for loss, earning district defensive player of the year honors. He was a true freshman starter at North Carolina, appearing in 11 games including a bowl start, and fully announced himself as a prospect in his sophomore season with 72 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 10.5 tackles for loss, two pass breakups, and a forced fumble across 12 starts. PFF credited Campbell with a below-10% missed tackle rate in 2024, a standout mark for a player of his size, and Sports Info Solutions named him a First Team All-Big Ten linebacker at Penn State in 2025, ranking him top 10 nationally in linebacker Total Points with a 2.3 Average Depth of Tackle placing him top five among Big Ten linebackers. Acme Packing Company noted Campbell's game-clinching moment against Rutgers in 2025, recovering a fumble forced by Dani Dennis-Sutton and returning it 61 yards for the go-ahead score. PFF Lead Analyst Trevor Sikkema described Campbell as a player who embodies where modern linebacker play is heading, sacrificing size for speed and three-down versatility, with an explosive first step especially on interior blitzes. ESPN's Jordan Reid gave Campbell an early Day 3 grade as a Penn State transfer, while Nittany Sports Now projected him as a fifth-round selection entering the 2025 season. NFLDraftBuzz ranked him 32nd among linebackers and Sam Teets placed him 189th overall (Tier 10) in his 2026 big board, projecting him in the late Day 3 range. The mentorship of former North Carolina linebacker Cedric Gray, now with the Tennessee Titans, helped shape Campbell's leadership and understanding of the position, and he wor

Strengths

  • Reliable tackler with a below-10% missed tackle rate in 2024 despite playing below the NFL size threshold for the position
  • Explosive first step as a blitzer, particularly attacking interior gaps where his quickness creates immediate disruption
  • Quick processor who diagnoses plays early and triggers downhill to disrupt offensive timing before schemes develop
  • Top-10 national ranking among off-ball linebackers in SIS Total Points in 2025, with a 2.3 Average Depth of Tackle placing him top 5 among Big Ten linebackers
  • Worn the green dot as defensive signal-caller at North Carolina, demonstrating above-average football IQ and communication ability as an underclassman
  • Fluid athlete whose movement skills project three-down coverage versatility even though production in coverage has been limited
  • Exceptional motor and relentless pursuit sideline to sideline
  • demonstrated big-play production including a 61-yard scoop-and-score at Penn State in 2025

Weaknesses

  • Listed at 230 pounds with a height/weight profile in the bottom 20th percentile for NFL linebackers, raising durability questions against power run schemes and pulling/climbing blockers who can displace him
  • Forty-yard dash of 4.70 limits his range against athletic tight ends and running backs in space, creating matchup problems in modern offensive systems
  • Coverage production remains thin relative to his movement skills
  • has not accumulated meaningful pass breakup or interception numbers at the college level
  • Can be overly aggressive pursuing big hits rather than securing fundamental tackles, leading to missed opportunities in the open field
  • Limited experience against top-tier offensive competition before the Big Ten stint raises questions about consistency ceiling
  • Run defense against larger linemen is a work in progress, as he will yield ground to pulling blockers who can engage and redirect him

NFL Comparison

Deontae Lawson, Alabama (same undersized three-down WILL linebacker profile, explosive blitzer with size concerns against power); Rasheem Biles, Pittsburgh (similar smaller-frame, speed-first linebacker best deployed in attacking schemes that mask physical limitations)

College Stats

2023 (Fr, North Carolina): 14 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 sack, 1 INT; 2024 (So, North Carolina): 72 tackles, 10.5 TFL, 6.5 sacks, 2 PBU, 1 FF; 2025 (Jr, Penn State): First Team All-Big Ten per SIS, top-10 national Total Points among LBs, 2.3 Average Depth of Tackle (top 5 Big Ten LBs)

Measurables

Height
6'1"
Weight
230
40-Yd
4.70

Awards & Honors

2025 SIS First Team All-Big Ten (LB); District Defensive Player of the Year (Unity Reed High School, senior season); Team Captain at North Carolina; 3-star recruit (2023 class)